Cory Littleton, Las Vegas Raiders

In 2019, Raider fans knew one thing about their defense: their linebackers were very rough. After the predictable failure of the Vontaze Burfict signing, Oakland marched into Week 17 with a starting group of Tahir Whitehead, Will Compton, and Kyle Wilbur; these are not exactly names that strike fear into opposing players.

While Whitehead started all 16 games and led the team in tackles with 108, the rest of the group consisted of young players and castoffs who simply could not make a consistent impact for the Oakland defense.

General manager Mike Mayock opted to fill these voids quickly, completely changing their linebacker core by signing former Bear Nick Kwiatkoski to a three-year, $21 million deal and bringing in Littleton from the Los Angeles Rams.

Over the past two seasons, Littleton has exploded onto the scene as an impact linebacker in all areas by notching 259 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and five interceptions in those two years combined. At only 26-years-old, the Rams likely intended for Littleton to be part of their defensive core as he continued into his prime; alas, with the massive extension signed by Jared Goff, key players like Littleton and Todd Gurley simply couldn’t fit under the cap.

While Littleton’s contract does make him the seventh highest-paid player at his position, the value for a team with so little production at inside linebacker cannot be overlooked. The former Washington Husky has played all 16 games in every season of his four-year career.

With the Raiders still in the awkward “rebuild/retool” conundrum so many teams find themselves in, a steady defensive presence can be absolutely pivotal for a defensive unit riddled with extreme youth at many key positions. Expect Littleton, a Pro Bowler in 2018, to return to that form again as the Raiders continue to steadily improve their roster around him.