Las Vegas Raiders draft needs changing with signings

Mike Mayock has been busy revamping the Las Vegas Raiders defense this week, and it may have changed their priorities in the 2020 NFL Draft.

The Las Vegas Raiders have agreed to terms with former Los Angeles Rams linebacker Cory Littleton and in doing so, changed the dynamic of the first-round draft picks they hold. Throughout the offseason, the team has been in need of linebacking talent, and it was clear they would use one of their first round picks on either Oklahoma’s Kenneth Murray, or Patrick Queen from LSU.

Littleton is a player the Raiders needed to sign, and they have. The team-friendly $36 million over three years with $11.75 million guaranteed gives the Raiders a much-needed boost at the linebacker position. Even more important, he’s one of the best coverage linebackers in the NFL only behind Dion Jones of Atlanta.

Prior to signing Littleton, the Raiders added Nick Kwiatkoski, a dynamic middle linebacker who had a breakout season for the Chicago Bears last year. Those two will be the backbone of the linebackr unit heading into 2020.

Last month, I wrote an article talking about which defensive players the Raiders should target in free agency, and Littleton was on that list.

The fifth-year linebacker turns 27 this year and is a huge boost to the Raiders defense which struggled to defend the pass last season. Littleton brings a skill-set geared for defending tight ends and helping boost the pass defense. In an AFC West that includes guys like Hunter Henry, Travis Kelce, and Noah Fant, defending the tight end is crucial.

As the celebrating continues for Raider Nation, all eyes now turn to the draft and the two first-round picks the Raiders have on day 1 of the draft.

Some theorized the front office would try to package picks to move up to get Isiah Simmons, I argued for that in an article written back in January. My argument was merely salary cap motivated since a rookie would be less of a cap hit and would be motivated, in theory, to play harder than a veteran would be to win a spot on the team.

Seeing as how Simmons was the best linebacker in the draft and the Raiders needed more depth at the position, he seemed like a perfect fit.

I’ve said this many times and I’ll say it again, the biggest mistake the Raiders made last year was going into the season with only four linebackers. This year, however, the Raiders will hopefully make a better decision and retain players who will help them win the AFC West or at least make it into the playoffs.

The Raiders will seemingly spend their first-round picks on skill position players, as there is still a dire need for a true WR1 on this roster. With the Arizona Cardinals trading for DeAndre Hopkins, this allows the wide receiver rich draft to fall at least one more spot to the Raiders, who desperately need another weapon in the passing game for quarterback Derek Carr.

Taking a wide receiver at No. 12 seems like a no-brainer, as they could have their pick between Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb, or Alabama’s dynamic duo in Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III. At No. 19, they can shift their focus from linebacker to possibly the secondary, where they are in desperate need for help at the cornerback position.