Raiders draft countdown: Todd Christensen is best No. 46

Originally posted on Dice City Sports | By Mark Hebert | Last updated Mar 8, 2026 11:01 AM ET

Forty-six 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 8, the number is 46.

Todd Christensen, No. 46

Todd Christensen is the pick for No. 46 because he turned into one of the most productive tight ends in Raiders history and did it on championship teams. From 1979-1988, he became a featured target, a chain mover, and a weekly mismatch in the middle of the field.

Christensen played 136 games for the Raiders and started 90. He caught 461 passes for 5,872 yards and 41 touchdowns, production that still holds up against any tight end era.

Heaven Birthday, Todd Christensen

Image | Source: Dice City Sports
#Raiders Legend
Two-Time Super Bowl Champion
Five-Time Pro Bowler
Three-Time First-Team All-Pro

The first player in NFL history with four consecutive 80-reception seasons, and the first tight end ever to amass 90 receptions in a season… pic.twitter.com/gr71dDnCM7

— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) August 4, 2025

Why Christensen gets No. 46

No. 46 has a short list, and Christensen overwhelms it with production and honors. Five Pro Bowls and two All-Pro selections separate him, and so does the bottom line: two Super Bowl titles in Silver and Black.

For this number, the separator is 461 catches and 41 touchdowns as a Raider.

Draft and background

Christensen was born Aug. 3, 1956, in Bellefonte, Pa. He played at Sheldon High School in Oregon before starring at BYU.

The Dallas Cowboys drafted him in the second round, 56th overall, in 1978. Then he arrived with the Raiders and built the best stretch of his career in Silver and Black.