Just Win, Baby: Grading Best Years of Raiders' Cornerbacks

Al Davis loved the deep passing game, pass-rushing defensive linemen and corners who could cover man to man ... though not necessarily in that order. But above all he adored the cornerbacks.

And he certainly went after them.

Of the 15 top single seasons of Raiders' cornerbacks, at least a half-dozen were produced by players acquired by Davis through trades or free agency ... and you'll find them below.

Deciding which produced the best seasons was tricky. Interceptions don't always tell the story for cornerbacks. Neither do postseason honors like All-Pro and Pro Bowl selections. Sometimes they occur a year after a player enjoyed his best season.

Taking all that into consideration, I've compiled my top 15 seasons by Raiders' cornerbacks:

15. Phillip Buchanon, 2003—He had six interceptions, including two returned for touchdown, and ran back two punts for scores. The 4.31 speedster was also an AFC Defensive Player of the Week and would be higher on this list if he hadn't been beaten for a few too many scores.

14. Skip Thomas, 1975—The Raiders' "Soul Patrol" secondary was stellar in 1975, posting a defensive passer rating of 37.5 to go with 28 interceptions.  "Dr. Death" had six of those, with 41 tackles and 26 passes defensed. As his nickname suggests, the 6-1, 205-pound Thomas was a devastating hitter, akin to having an extra safety on the field.

13. Lionel Washington, 1991—The Week 7 AFC Defensive Player of the Week, Washington had 72 tackles, five interceptions and 21 passes defensed. It was a Pro Bowl-worthy season, though Washington somehow wasn't chosen

12. Nemiah Wilson, 1971—He went to an AFL All-Star game with the Broncos but didn't get the accolades as a Raider he deserved. With teams throwing away from teammate Willie Brown, Wilson responded with a career year. He grabbed five enemy passes, had 47 tackles -- including, five for losses - and produced 25 passes defensed.

11. Fred Williamson, 1962—"The Hammer" had his best season in 1962. The future Hollywood actor was a consensus All-AFL choice, with eight interceptions -- including one returned for a TD.

One paper called the 6-3, 215-pound Williamson the "best secondary defender in the AFL." He played off -- now called playing "out of phase" -- and would play downhill, close on the ball and deflect or intercept.

10. Albert Lewis, 1996—After leaving the Chiefs as a free agent, he remained a fine cover corner -- giving up just a single touchdown pass, per Stats Perform (STATS). The should-be Hall of Famer was also a force in run defense and coming on the corner blitz. He had 54 tackles, two interceptions, three sacks and was credited with 15 defended passes.

9. Eric Allen, 1998—At 35 in 2000, he proved he still could make teams pay when they challenged him. He nabbed six opponent passes and turned three into touchdowns.

But that is not his top season.

Two years prior, Allen had an individual defensive passer rating of 16.3 (STATS). Yes, in a statistic where 50.0 is excellent and 40.0 exceptional, he had a 16.3!

Only 41 percent of passes directed at him were completed, and on the one touchdown he allowed, it was a shared responsibility. So he allowed just a half-touchdown.

8. Terry McDaniel, 1994—Twice the AFC Defensive Player of the Week, McDaniel had seven interceptions, one a pick-six, and recovered three fumbles, one a scoop-and-score. He also had 61 tackles and 22 passes defensed.

He was a second-team All-Pro (AP), but the astute Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News, as well as NFL Films, picked McDaniel as a first-team All-Pro.

7. Kent McCloughan, 1967—A master of the bump and run, doing it because he lacked elite speed, McCloughan frustrated receivers by disrupting the timing of their routes.

His 1966 could have been picked (he was All-AFL and snagged an AFL Defensive Player of the Week award), but in 1967 he was a consensus All-AFL choice and was half of the top corner tandem in pro football with 55 tackles and 23 passes defensed.

"Kent's the real master of the bump and run," Hall-of-Fame receiver Lance Alworth said after that season. "He tied you up by keeping his hands on you all the time. If it is a short pass he's right there. If it's long, he knocks you off stride. It's hard to get moving when someone bumps you every second or third step."

Knee injuries shortened his career, but the 6-1, 190-pounder -- who was as adept at tackling as coverage -- was among pro football's best cornerbacks for a short time.

6. Dave Grayson, 1965—Grayson was somehow let go by Hank Stram, and Al Davis was only too happy to take him in a one-for-one swap for Fred Williamson.

Grayson would become a dominant safety in Oakland, but that would come a couple of years later. He was first a corner ... and a great one at that. In fact, by midseason in 1965, one writer said that Grayson had "not been bombed," presumably meaning he hadn't surrendered a long touchdown.

He was a consensus All-AFL selection, his tackle total was 51, and he had 21 passes defensed and three interceptions, returning two for touchdowns.

5. Charles Woodson, 1999—It was only Woodson's second NFL season, but teams nevertheless avoided throwing to his side.

The 1997 Heisman Trophy winner was a consensus All-Pro and Pro Bowl starter despite only one interception (which he returned for a touchdown). He also had 61 tackles and 15 passes defended.

"There is a reason he's not getting the numbers (interceptions)" said teammate Richard Harvey, "Nobody's throwing at him. He's not getting any activity."

4. Nnamdi Asomugha, 2007—In 2006 he had the picks and his lowest individual defensive passer rating of 40.5 (STATS). After that, teams didn't throw at him. 

There were other years where he didn't allow a touchdown and/or was a consensus All-Pro. Any of those years would qualify for this list. But in 2007, he allowed just a 36.8 completion percentage and one touchdown (also STATS), with a single interception. 

He takes some heat because he later fizzled after signing a huge contract with the Eagles (2011). But he was a true shutdown guy in Oakland for a handful of years.

Free agency has been a boon for the NFL and itts players. It brought fairer pay to individuals and excitement to teams looking to improve immediately. But it sometimes put players in situations that hurt their legacies.

Asomugha was one of those players. Had he been paid in Oakland and kept the level of 2007 play for another handful of years, he might have been on the Hall-of- Fame's radar. But the Philadelphia Story ended all hopes of that.

3. Willie Brown, 1969—Not only was Brown a consensus All-AFL pick, he was first-team on All-Pro teams that picked players from both the NFL and AFL.

He was widely considered the best cornerback in pro football this year, and Joe Namath said as much after Brown allowed George Sauer one catch for 16 yards in a late November game.

According to media reports, Namath targeted Sauer 12 times that afternoon.

Sauer also was quoted as agreeing with Namath, "Yep. He's the best." Willie Brown thought so, too. When asked who the best cornerback in the world was, Brown reportedly said, "I am."

He was probably right.

Owner Al Davis coveted Brown when he was a Bronco and marveled at his bump-and-run style that Raiders' cornerbacks adopted for decades.

In 1967, he finally got his man, acquiring him (along with quarterback Mickey Slaughter) for Rex Mirich and a third-round draft pick. 

Brown was never really credited as an excellent force corner. He was more like McCloughan: He made tackles in the backfield on sweeps to his side. Though numbers don't begin to tell Brown's story, it's always good to have them. His stat line was 35 tackles and he was credited with 34 passes defensed.

2. Mike Haynes, 1984—"The Shadow" had several great years in Los Angeles, but none better than 1984 when he was the NFL Defensive MVP (NEA). He was simply the best in the league. A consensus All-Pro and Pro Bowler and top-ranked cornerback by scouts, Haynes shut down receivers week after week,

"He was the ideal cornerback," said Willie Brown, his secondary coach."It's like you ordered him out of a catalogue." 

Haynes felt he played better than usual because teams had to throw to his side more than they did when he was in New England. The reason? Teammate Lester Hayes.

"Here with Lester on the other side," Haynes said, "it's tough. Where are they going to throw? They have to try."

Try they did, and Haynes made them sorry they did. He had six interceptions, including two for scores, and was the AFC Defensive Player of the Week for a two-interception game vs. Miami and Dan Marino.

He finished with six interceptions, a league-leading 220 yards in returns and one touchdown. Game books credit him with 53 tackles and 20 passes defensed.

1. Lester Hayes, 1980—Finally, a year where interceptions are an indication of elite play.

With 13 of them, one short of the NFL record, Hayes was the consensus NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1980. But that's not all. He had four interceptions called back because of penalties, including a 95-yard touchdown, and five more in the playoffs en route to a Super Bowl win.

He even forced a fumble and fell on two for a total of 15 takeaways in the regular season to go with 49 tackles and 22 passes defensed. He did allow four touchdowns, but that was due to his gambling, quarterback-baiting style.

His game-changing plays proved the results were worth the gamble.

Hayes' season was one for the ages and the best in the vaunted history of the NFL team that boasts the greatest collection of cornerbacks.