Over the last few days, several big-name outlets, including ESPN and Bleacher Report, have praised the Raiders for bringing in veteran linebacker Cory Littleton. But another move that isn’t receiving enough praise is the signing of linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski.
Kwiatkoski started just 22 games for the Bears in the last four seasons, but he has appeared in 57 contests. His best season came in 2019, when he started eight games and totaled 76 tackles to go along with three sacks.
In a recent analytical study by NFL Network’s Cynthia Frelund, she named each team’s most underrated player entering the 2020 season. For the Raiders, that was none other than Kwiatkoski, who has flown under the radar for most of his career. Take a look at Frelund’s thoughts on the Raiders’ new linebacker:
As far as the AFC is concerned, Kwiatkoski is the only player who was not on his current team in 2019 to make this list. One reason I’m making an exception with him is because I wanted to show how the Raiders’ offseason moves have included players who project to drive real value at really smart contractual prices (19th-highest average salary per year of 129 ILBs, per Over The Cap). Last season with the Bears, Kwiatkoski kept opposing passers to an 85.5 rating (seventh-best among 69 linebackers with at least 25 targets, per PFF), meaning his potential impact is more valuable than his cost.
At just 26 years old, Kwiatkoski is just starting to reach his prime. And with a bigger workload, he should become an even better player with the Raiders. Anytime he’s been on the field, he has been a productive linebacker in coverage and in the run game.
As long as Littleton can perform as well as he did with the Rams, the Raiders should have a significantly improved linebacker corps in 2020. And that should make the defense a much better unit as a whole. Look for Kwiatkoski to become one of the better defenders on Paul Guenther’s defense next season.
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