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Raiders draft countdown: Dan Conners is best No. 55

Originally posted on Dice City Sports | By Mark Hebert | Last updated Feb 27, 2026 8:33 AM ET

Fifty-five 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, Feb. 27, the number is 55.

Dan Conners, No. 55

Dan Conners is the pick for No. 55 because he anchored the Raiders defense for nearly a decade and made impact plays all the way through. From 1966-1974, he gave the franchise a reliable middle-of-the-defense presence during its early winning years.

Conners played 141 games for the Raiders and finished with 15 interceptions, returning three for touchdowns. For this number, the turnover production is the separator.

The Raiders family is saddened by the passing of Dan Conners, a stalwart middle linebacker for the Silver and Black for over a decade.

Statement: https://t.co/bmLYKGV5q6 pic.twitter.com/RlAM1PQhv9

— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) May 8, 2019

Why Conners gets No. 55

No. 55 has several solid linebacker runs, but Conners has the most complete Raiders resume. He combined longevity with playmaking, and he did it on teams that mattered.

He also stacked individual recognition. Conners made three Pro Bowls and was part of an AFL championship roster, which separates him from the rest of this list.

Draft and background

Conners was born Feb. 6, 1941, in St. Marys, Pa. He played at St. Marys High School in Pennsylvania before playing at Miami.

The Raiders drafted him in the second round of the 1964 AFL Draft. He spent his entire pro career with the franchise and became one of the early standard-setters on defense.