The 10 most underrated players in Las Vegas Raiders history

1. Underrated Raiders: Jim Plunkett, Quarterback

After winning the Heisman Trophy at Stanford, Jim Plunkett was selected with the first overall pick in the 1971 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. After winning the NFL’s Rookie of the Year honors, Plunkett flamed out in New England, went to San Francisco for two years, and then landed with the Raiders franchise.

Throughout his time in the Silver and Black, Plunkett had to step in and take over on multiple occasions, leading the Raiders to two Super Bowl victories, including Super Bowl XV, where he was the game’s Most Valuable Player. The 1980 Comeback Player of the Year, Plunkett was the first minority to lead his team to a Super Bowl win at quarterback and was the first Latino Super Bowl MVP.

Like Branch, there is no reason why Plunkett should not be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, as he posted an 8-2 record in the playoffs, and the history of the league cannot be written without him. He has all the credentials of a quarterback who should be immortalized in Canton, and hopefully, one day, before he leaves this Earth, he will finally get the call of a lifetime.