NFL Thursday is back, and we take the quick drive east on Interstate 15 from Los Angeles to Las Vegas—to check out the Raiders franchise and its best 10 players in organizational history. That archive started in Oakland, moved to L.A., returned to Oak Town, and now is in Sin City. What an adventure! Of course, the team has been successful, for the most part, although a lot of that success is in the distant rear-view mirror.

No. 10: Marcus Allen, RB—107 AV (1982-1992)

Despite winning the Heisman vote in 1981, he was just the No. 10 overall pick in the next draft. Allen’s first NFL season was the team’s first year in L.A., too, so he stayed put after his college career at USC. In his first 4 NFL seasons? He totaled 62 AV and won a Super Bowl MVP and an NFL MVP, but after that, it was an odd situation with team management. But he made 5 Pro Bowls in his first 6 seasons, so there was some payoff.

No. 9: Cliff Branch, WR—108 AV (1972-1985)

An oldie but a goodie, his career spans both Oakland (1976, 1980) and L.A. (1983) Super Bowl title teams. Like Allen, he is in the Hall of Fame; Branch reached 4 Pro Bowls in his career while topping the NFL in receiving yards once (1974) and receiving touchdowns twice (1974, 1976). Not bad for a 4th-round draft pick who always will be in the NFL record books thanks to this play made during his age-35 season. Impressive!

No. 8: Fred Biletnikoff, WR—118 AV (1965-1978)

Considering he played almost his whole career in a different era of rules for passing, it’s impressive to see him on this list. We think he should have won the 1964 Heisman; even so, he was the No. 11 overall pick in the draft, and Biletnikoff made it to 6 Pro Bowls with the Silver & Black. He topped the AFL in yards per reception once (1967) as the Raiders won their only league title that year on the way to a Super Bowl II loss.

No. 7: Howie Long, DE—119 AV (1981-1993)

One of only 2 defensive players on this list, Long is better known to many as a TV analyst. He played 1 season in Oakland as a rookie before migrating down south with the team. A second-round pick, he made it to 8 Pro Bowls and the Hall of Fame on the backs of 91.5 sacks and 6 seasons of double-digit AV. His best season (1985) featured 18 AV, 10 sacks, and the third of 5 consecutive Pro Bowl nods from 1983-1987. Beast!

No. 6: Art Shell, RB—122 AV (1968-1982)

His 15-season career included 8 Pro Bowls, 2 Super Bowl championships, and a lot of respect as a guy who never missed a game until his 12th year in the NFL. His final season was the team’s first in Southern California, and he posted 6 consecutive seasons of double-digit AV from 1973-1978. He played in 23 postseason games and went on to coach the team later in life as well, cementing his Hall of Fame legacy.

No. 5: Willie Brown, CB—122 AV (1967-1978)

Hard to believe the Denver Broncos gave up on this future Hall of Famer after 4 seasons, but the Silver & Black were always known for collecting the castoffs and making them legends. With 39 interceptions in 12 seasons for the team, Brown also reached the Pro Bowl in his first 7 years with Oakland, and his pick-six effort in Super Bowl XI is very famous (hope you never asked him about it, as he was kind of a prick IRL).

No. 4: Steve Wisniewski, G—138 AV (1989-2001)

There are 4 offensive linemen in the Top 6 here; go figure. This is the only one not in the Hall of Fame, however, despite making 8 Pro Bowls in his career. Not playing in a Super Bowl clearly hurt his legacy, which is ridiculous. Wisniewski posted double-digit AV in 8 straight seasons (1990-1997) and 9 years, overall; he also was voted All Decade for the 1990s, too. Put this man into Canton as soon as possible!

No. 3: Tim Brown, WR—144 AV (1988-2003)

Another Heisman vote winner on our list, he topped the NFL in receptions once (1997) while making 9 Pro Bowls in a Hall of Fame career. As the No. 6 overall pick in the draft, Brown certainly delivered the good for the Silver & Black in both Los Angeles and Oakland, helping the Raiders reach their most recent Super Bowl. He also led the league in punt return yardage once (1994) and kick return yardage once (1988), as well.

No. 2: Gene Upshaw, G—149 AV (1967-1981)

A member of the team’s first 2 Super Bowl championship rosters, he is in the Hall thanks to 7 Pro Bowls and 9 seasons overall of double-digit AV. Upshaw peaked with 16 AV in 1977 at age 32, which is impressive in itself. He teamed with Shell to form quite the anchors on an offensive line that protected a few good quarterbacks during his career span—all in Oakland. He played in 24 playoff games for the Silver & Black.

No. 1: Jim Otto, C—163 AV (1960-1974)

He only played in one Super Bowl for the team, but for many years, he was the face of the franchise even after retiring. Good ol’ Double Zero … Otto was named to 12 consecutive Pro Bowls from 1961 to 1972, averaging 11.5 AV for the first 13 seasons of his career. He is in the Hall of Fame as an “original Raider” due to his rookie season coinciding with the team’s inception in the AFL. Otto is still a big fan favorite to the fans.