Las Vegas Raiders linebacker group dramatically improved for 2020
By Brad Weiss
The Las Vegas Raiders made a big-time investment at the linebacker position this offseason, and the group was recently ranked as one of the best in the game.
Heading into the 2020 offseason, one key area the Las Vegas Raiders needed to address was linebacker, where players have been a liability for as long as I can remember. To address this issue, Mike Mayock went the free agency route, bringing in two guys who will completely revamp the starting lineup.
Cory Littleton was widely regarded as one of the premier free agents at linebacker, and the Raiders were able to get him under contract. Looking for a guy to wear the green dot in Paul Guenther’s defense, the team also signed Nick Kwiatkoski, a punishing linebacker who may not be an elite cover guy, but is not going to get burnt like the players the team had there last season.
Pro Football Focus recently ranked all 32 teams in terms of the linebacker position, and the Raiders are no longer a doormat in the NFL. In fact, PFF ranked the Silver and Black No. 6 overall at the position group, and there are multiple reasons why the team is making such a drastic move up the rankings.
Here is why the Raiders linebacker group was ranked so high for 2020.