16 days remain until the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pa., April 23-25, 2026. After a 3-14 season in 2025, the Las Vegas Raiders hold the No. 1 overall pick as this daily countdown continues through the franchise’s best players by jersey number.
Today, April 7, 2026, the number is 16.
Jim Plunkett, No. 16
Jim Plunkett is the pick at No. 16 because he delivered the Raiders their most important quarterback moments. He led two championship runs and owns the biggest January resume at this number.
Plunkett played for the Raiders from 1979-86. In that span, he won two Super Bowls and took home Super Bowl XV MVP.
Why Plunkett gets No. 16
Plunkett is the best No. 16 because he paired wins with real production in silver and black. He went 38-19 as a Raiders starter and threw for 12,665 yards.
Meanwhile, he delivered 80 touchdown passes and helped define a championship era. That postseason legacy separates him from every other No. 16 option.
Draft and background
Plunkett was born Dec. 5, 1947, in San Jose, Calif. He attended William C. Overfelt and James Lick high schools in California, then played at Stanford.
He was drafted by the New England Patriots with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1971 NFL Draft.
Other notable No. 16s
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George Blanda, 1967-1975
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Jakobi Meyers, 2023-2025
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Tyrell Williams, 2019
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Johnny Holton, 2016-2018
Career check
Plunkett remains the benchmark for Raiders quarterbacks when the stakes are highest. For No. 16, the rings and Super Bowl MVP make it decisive.
Next up tomorrow: No. 15.
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Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
