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Raiders draft countdown: Ray Guy is best No. 8 in team history

With 8 days left until the 2026 NFL Draft, the Raiders draft countdown names Ray Guy as the best No. 8. He punted 1,049 times as a Raider.

File photo: Oakland Raiders punter Ray Guy punts against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XV.
File photo: Jan. 25, 1981, New Orleans, La., USA, Oakland Raiders punter Ray Guy (8) punts the ball away against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XV at the Superdome. The Raiders defeated the Eagles 27-10. Mandatory Credit: Manny Rubio-Imagn Images

8 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 15, 2026, the number is 8.

Ray Guy, No. 8

Ray Guy is the pick at No. 8 because he set the punting standard for the Raiders and the league. He gave Oakland field position control for more than a decade.

Guy played his entire Raiders career from 1973-86. In that span, he became a Hall of Famer and won three Super Bowls.

Why Guy gets No. 8

Guy is the best No. 8 because his production and honors are unmatched at this jersey. He punted 1,049 times for 44,493 yards across 14 Raiders seasons.

Meanwhile, he stacked elite recognition, including seven Pro Bowls and three All-Pro selections. That resume makes him the clear choice.

Draft and background

Guy was born Dec. 22, 1949, in Swainsboro, Ga. He attended Thomson High School in Georgia, then played at Southern Miss.

The Oakland Raiders drafted him in the first round (No. 23 overall) in 1973.

Other notable No. 8s

  • Jason Campbell, 2010-2011

  • Daniel Carlson, 2018-2025

  • Josh Jacobs, 2023

  • Ameer Abdullah, 2024

  • Daunte Culpepper, 2007

  • Marcus Mariota, 2020-2021

  • Marques Tuiasosopo, 2001-2008

Career check

Guy helped define what the Raiders wanted to be in the 1970s and 1980s. For No. 8, his Hall of Fame legacy ends the debate.

Next up tomorrow: No. 7.

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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.

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