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Raiders draft countdown: Lyle Alzado is best No. 77

Originally posted on Dice City Sports | By Mark Hebert | Last updated Feb 5, 2026 10:48 AM ET

Seventy-seven 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, February 5, the number is 77.

Lyle Alzado, No. 77

Lyle Alzado, known as “Nine Mile Lyle,” is the pick for No. 77 because he brought edge violence and instant impact to the Raiders front. Even in a short stint, he made the number feel bigger.

Alzado played four seasons with the Raiders from 1982-1985. He started all 51 games he played and posted 23.0 sacks.

The separator is 23.0 sacks in 51 starts.

Why “Nine Mile Lyle” gets No. 77

The No. 77 list has solid names, but Alzado delivered the clearest difference-making production. He also did it while playing through constant attention from protections.

His Raiders run also ended with the ultimate result. Alzado was part of a Super Bowl championship team in Silver and Black.

January 15, 1983

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

Raiders DE Lyle Alzado goes off on Jets OT Chris Ward.

Raiders DL Archie Reese tried to calm him down on the sidelines with James Garner

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. pic.twitter.com/8prb291p7J
— AFL Godfather

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(@NFLMAVERICK) January 15, 2026

Draft and background

Alzado was born April 3, 1949, in Brooklyn, New York. He played at Lawrence High School in New York, then went to Kilgore College and Yankton.

The Denver Broncos drafted him in the fourth round, 79th overall, in 1971. He later became one of the league’s most feared defensive linemen, then finished his career with the Raiders.

Other notable No. 77s

Ike Lassiter, 1965-1969
Austin Howard, 2014-2016
Bubba Smith, 1973-1974
Matt Shaughnessy, 2009-2012
Charles Philyaw, 1976-1979
Pat Harlow, 1997-1998
Thayer Munford, 2022-2024
Trent Brown, 2019-2020

Career check

Alzado built a long NFL career, but his Raiders numbers are the case for No. 77. When a player starts 51 straight games and hits 23.0 sacks, the number belongs to him.

Next up tomorrow: No. 76.

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.

This article first appeared on Dice City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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