Top 10 draft steals for the Oakland Raiders

April 3, 2:20 AMOakland Raiders ExaminerPatrick Patterson

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Yesterday was a look at the Raiders various draft moves that did not work out so well, for whatever reason. Today, it is time to look at the picks that went right. These are the players that ended up being the biggest steals. As there was yesterday, there will be disagreement with this list. Without further ado, here is the top ten Raider draft steals.

10. Nnamdi Asomugha 2003 1st rd #31

OK, how can a first round pick be a steal? Very easily, he is selected at the end of the round and becomes the elite player at his position. At the time, he was so unknown the commissioner butchered his name. Now, he is considered the best corner in the game.

9. Ronald Curry 2002 7th round #235

True, Curry was injury prone, and never had a 1000 yard season. He was selected with a throwaway pick and ended up leading the team in receiving categories for two years. His problematic 2008 campaign made it easy to forget that he was money for the Raiders for a couple years. He also gets bonus points for the spectacular catch in the snow in Denver.

8 Grady Jackson 1997 6th rd # 193

Grady Jackson was a key member of the Raiders defense during their playoff run in the early 2000s. He was the run clogger that the Raiders are sorely missing now.

7 Howie Long 1981 2nd rd #48

Long was actually the third player picked by the defending champion Oakland Raiders in that draft. He went on to a Hall of Fame career for the Silver and Black.

6 Bo Jackson 1987 7th rd # 183

Bo was one of the most high profile athletes ever. He was also a freak of nature on both the baseball diamond and gridiorn. Had Bo played football full time, instead of splitting his time between baseball and football, and had he not gotten injured after only four seasons he would likely have set every rushing record so high they would never be broken. He was a steal for the Raiders in the seventh round, however, he was only a part time player for a short time.

5 Greg Biekert 1993 7th rd # 181

Beikert was the leader of the Raiders defense for several years. He was the one who deciphered Peyton Manning's audibles in a game against the Colts, which helped the Raiders come from behind in 2000.

4 Shane Lechler 2000 5th rd # 142

If Lechler played any other position, his name would be consistently preceded with the phrase "future Hall of Famer." He is the all time leader in net punting average. He is establishing himself as possibly the best ever at his position, and the Raiders got him in the fifth round.

3 Rod Martin 1977 12th rd #317

His name wasn't carved on the MVP plaque after his three interceptions in Super Bowl XV, but it should have been. He played for the Raiders for 12 years, and was selected in a round that no longer exists.

2 Greg Townsend 1983 4th rd # 110

Townsend was selected in the fourth round, and went on to terrorize opposing quarterbacks for the remainder of his career. He is currently the Raiders career sack leader.

1 Lester Hayes 1977 5th rd # 126

Lester Hayes was the very definition of shutdown corner during his time in Silver and Black. After his breakout season in 1980 where he missed the single season interception record by one, quarterbacks started ignoring his site of the field.