Grading the Las Vegas Raiders additions on defense
Cory Littleton, ILB, Los Angeles Rams
Cory Littleton was the primary target for the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason according to many experts, including the staff here at JBB. The Raiders have been searching for a decade for a linebacker that is not a negative in pass coverage and in Littleton they have one that excels there.
The former Ram has more passes defended than any other linebacker in the past three years and has six interceptions over that same span. He has also started all 16 games for the Rams since 2018 and lead the team in tackles the past two seasons.
Littleton automatically becomes the best middle linebacker the Raiders have had since Kirk Morrison and his ability to make plays all over the field should make him an instant star. It is hard to overstate how much of an improvement Littleton should be without moving in to hyperbole so we will temper those expectations and hope that he can be every bit the player for the Raiders as he was for the Rams.
The contract figures are the cherry on top as the Raiders signed Littleton for $35 million over 3 years with a potential out after 2 years if he does not live up to expectations. These numbers make Littleton the 7th highest paid inside linebacker in the NFL but it could easily be money well spent.