It was no surprise that the Raiders made a strong push to upgrade their linebacker corps this offseason. It’s a position that has haunted the Raiders for some time as the franchise usually relied on older players to fill that void.
This offseason, this Raiders decided to correct that issue by adding speed and youth to the position. That was accomplished when the team signed linebacker Cory Littleton to a three-year deal.
In a recent article by Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report, he broke down the 25 best moves of the 2020 offseason. Not surprisingly, the Littleton signing made the list at No. 13. Here is a snippet of Sobleski’s thoughts on the pairing of Littleton and the Raiders:
Littleton is the crown jewel of the organization’s free-agent class, because he gives the Raiders a leader in the middle of their defense and provides them with a true modern-day linebacker. The 26-year-old will be well worth the franchise’s three-year, $35.25 million investment if he remains an every-down player and posts 125 or more tackles each season, as he did the previous two campaigns.
That move alone should have a massive impact on the Raiders’ defense. The team needed to add speed in the worst way and Littleton’s coverage ability will help out significantly against teams such as the Chiefs and Broncos.
Look for Littleton to lead the Raiders in tackles in 2020 and become one of their most valuable defenders. This investment by the Raiders should provide instant returns.
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