Silver And Black Pride
We’re wrapping up the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders 2000s All-Quarter Century team by deciding on the third defensive back in today’s poll. Since we’re rolling with nickel personnel, I decided to open up the last position with a more generic defensive back designation, giving Eric Allen, Stanford Routt, Michael Huff and Tyvon Branch one last chance to make the squad.
So, this is your last chance to include these four players on the team!
Previously:
Raiders Stats (2000-2001): 7 INTs (3 TDs), 23 PDs, 2 FFs, 1 FRTD, 123 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack (32 games, 2 seasons)
Accolades: Hall of Fame (2025)
While Allen only spent a couple of years with the Raiders in the 2000s, he turned in two impressive campaigns. He led the NFL in pick-sixes with three in 2000, a franchise single-season record, and returned a fumble to the house the following year, collecting four touchdowns as a defensive player. Like Woodson, Allen was also a key factor in Oakland’s playoff teams at the turn of the century, picking up another interception and six more PDs in four postseason games.
Previously:
Raiders Stats: 10 INTs (1 TD), 51 PDs, 1 FF, 244 tackles, 6 TFLs, 2 sacks (110 games, 7 seasons)
Accolades: none
A second-round pick in the 2005 NFL draft, the Houston product was a classic Al Davis height/weight/speed project. He measured in at just under 6-foot-1.5 and 193 pounds while running a 4.27-second 40-yard dash, which was the fastest electric-timed 40 in combine history at the time. He took a couple of years to crack the starting lineup, but currently ranks fourth in franchise history for passes defended*. Routt’s best years in Oakland were his last two—2010 and 2011—where he recorded back-to-back double-digit PDs with 13 and 15, respectively.
Previously:
Raiders Stats: 441 tackles, 19 TFLs, 11 INTs, 53 PDs, 5.5 sacks (108 games, 7 seasons)
Accolades: 2nd-Team All-Pro (2010)
The No. 7 overall pick in the 2006 NFL draft, the Texas product was fresh off a National Championship before heading to the Raiders. His ball skills stood out with the Silver and Black, as he ranks in the top 25 in franchise history for interceptions and is third for passes defended*. Additionally, Huff recorded double-digit PDs in three out of his seven seasons with the Raiders. His best overall performance came in 2010, totaling 95 tackles, seven TFLs, four sacks, three interceptions and seven PDs to earn some postseason recognition.
Previously:
Raiders Stats: 475 tackles, 25 TFLs, 4 INTs, 33 PDs, 9 sacks (75 games, 7 seasons)
Accolades: none
As Huff’s running mate for five years, Branch proved to be a solid strong safety in Oakland. From 2009 to 2011, he had three consecutive triple-digit tackle campaigns and was just shy of making it four in a row by racking up 94...
