Oakland Raiders: Next Likely Hall of Fame Inductee Named

Ken Stabler was long overdue getting into the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame. Now another Oakland Raiders icon is chosen for having the best shot.

Though the franchise hasn’t always been viewed in the highest esteem over the years thanks to the renegade culture installed by late owner Al Davis, there is no doubt the Raiders have plenty of names that come to mind who should be considered for Canton. On the defensive side alone there is somebody like Lester Hayes, a five-time Pro Bowler with two Super Bowl rings who finished his career with 47 interceptions. Or there is Greg Townsend, the franchise leader in sacks (115) which is more that Howie Long who is already enshrined.

However, it seems NFL.com analyst Eliot Harrison believes the next gold jacket belongs to a certain someone on the offensive side. Somebody that Stabler loves throwing to throughout his career in silver and black. A man by the name of Cliff Branch.

"“Branch was one of the legit vertical targets of the 1970s, playing in an era that was undoubtedly the least friendly to big passing days — well, at least since the 1940s. Branch twice went over 1,000 yards during the decade. Nobody did it three times. He also led the NFL in touchdown receptions twice. Most impressively, however, Branch was named first team All-Pro three straight years. Both Lynn Swann and John Stallworth are in the Hall of Fame, and neither can boast of having accomplished that feat. Nor can Branch’s teammate Fred Biletnikoff.”"

Branch is the only notable Raiders player who actually played on all three of their Super Bowl teams between 1976 and 1983. He is third all-time in franchise history in receiving yards and touchdowns. His impressive speed was often what stood out most, averaging 17.3 yards per catch for his career. Branch never got the notoriety of a Swann because he never had any standout plays people remember. This despite the fact his numbers are better than Swann’s.

The bottom line is it’s hard to argue against this idea. For a long stretch of time, Cliff Branch was one of the best wide receivers in the game. This during an era when the rules did not favor the offenses like they do today. Branch may not have been overly big, but he was tough and scared defensive backs to death. One can’t talk about offense in the 1970s without mentioning his name. That is the mark of a Hall of Famer.