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Raiders draft countdown: Lance Johnstone is best No. 51

Originally posted on Dice City Sports | By Mark Hebert | Last updated Mar 3, 2026 10:01 AM ET

Fifty-one 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, March 3, the number is 51.

Lance Johnstone, No. 51

Lance Johnstone is the pick for No. 51 because he gave the Raiders steady edge pressure for six seasons, piling up sacks and forced fumbles as a disruptive rotational rusher who often played bigger than his listed size.

Johnstone played 87 games for the Raiders with 57 starts from 1996-2001, producing 31.0 sacks in Silver and Black. He also flashed a knack for takeaways, forcing 19 fumbles during his Raiders run.

Happy birthday to former #Raiders DE Lance Johnstone, June 11, 1973. pic.twitter.com/5BJtSqQohM

— AFL Godfather

Image | Source: Dice City Sports
Image | Source: Dice City Sports
Image | Source: Dice City Sports
(@NFLMAVERICK) June 11, 2021

Why Johnstone gets No. 51

No. 51 has a handful of options, but Johnstone’s combination of longevity, sacks and forced fumbles separates him. He wasn’t just cleaning up plays—he was creating problems for quarterbacks and tackles week after week, and the production held up across multiple Raiders defenses.

Draft and background

Johnstone was born June 11, 1973, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He played at Germantown High School in Pennsylvania before starring at Temple.

The Oakland Raiders drafted him in the second round (57th overall) in 1996, and he immediately became part of the team’s pass-rush mix, building a strong Raiders résumé at No. 51.