Las Vegas Raiders: 5 musts for the defense to succeed in 2021

HENDERSON, NEVADA - JULY 28: Yannick Ngakoue #91 of the Las Vegas Raiders runs during training camp at the Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters/Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center on July 28, 2021 in Henderson, Nevada. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)
HENDERSON, NEVADA - JULY 28: Yannick Ngakoue #91 of the Las Vegas Raiders runs during training camp at the Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters/Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center on July 28, 2021 in Henderson, Nevada. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images) /
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HENDERSON, NEVADA – JULY 28: Cory Littleton #42 of the Las Vegas Raiders runs a drill during training camp at the Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters/Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center on July 28, 2021, in Henderson, Nevada. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)
HENDERSON, NEVADA – JULY 28: Cory Littleton #42 of the Las Vegas Raiders runs a drill during training camp at the Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters/Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center on July 28, 2021, in Henderson, Nevada. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images) /

Las Vegas Raiders: 5 musts for the defense to succeed in 2021

Cory Littleton must turn the corner under Gus Bradley

During the 2020 offseason, the key free-agent pickup for the Raiders franchise was Cory Littleton, a playmaking linebacker from the Los Angeles Rams. With the Rams, Littleton was all over the field, forcing turnovers, being excellent in coverage, and just an all-around talent for Sean McVay.

With the Raiders in 2020, he was the complete opposite, and most believe that he just did not get comfortable in Paul Guenther’s defense. With a new defensive coordinator in Gus Bradley now leading the charge, we should be expecting a big season from Littleton, and it is a must that he turns the corner.

So far this summer, the linebacker group actually has looked pretty deep, and Tanner Muse is someone that is now getting first-team reps. Littleton is a big contract that needs to live up to the money in 2021 because there is a lot of young talent behind him on the depth chart that comes with a much smaller price tag.