The NFL announced the Pro Bowl rosters for the AFC and NFC squads on Tuesday night, and only two Rams made the cut. Cory Littleton was not one of them, surprisingly.
Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey were the two Rams who were selected, but it should’ve been a trio of defenders heading to Orlando for the all-star game. If anything, Littleton should’ve gotten the nod before Ramsey, who’s only having an average season at cornerback.
Littleton, on the other hand, has become one of the best linebackers in the NFL and is deserving of more recognition than he receives, and that could have started with him being named to the Pro Bowl.
He ranks eighth in the NFL with 124 tackles and is tied for ninth among all linebackers with eight passes defensed. Only three other players have at least 100 tackles, two sacks, five tackles for loss and two interceptions.
The reason for him not being selected to the Pro Bowl was more about the guys he’s going up against than his individual performance. In the NFC, two linebackers always reign supreme: Bobby Wagner and Luke Kuechly. They were both named to the Pro Bowl this season, ranking second and fourth in the NFL in tackles, respectively. Wagner has only broken up six passes with one forced fumble and one interception, while Kuechly has two interceptions, 11 passes defensed and only three tackles for loss.
Littleton has more forced fumbles and fumble recoveries than both linebackers, more sacks (2.5) than both of them combined, and more tackles for loss than Kuechly (tied with Wagner). Littleton has also hit the quarterback four times, which is one more than Wagner and two more than Kuechly.
Littleton isn’t a big name, but when looking at the numbers and his overall performance this season, he’s certainly among the top linebackers in football. He’s only getting better, too, improving immensely as a run defender since last season.
Here’s where he ranked among linebackers a few weeks ago, according to Pro Football Focus.
#LARams Cory Littleton has been on an absolute tear this season, proving to be one of the top LBs in the league 🔥
In 2019 (among LBs with at least 350 snaps), Littleton's grades rank:
– 1st in Tackling
– 2nd in Coverage
– 5th in Pass Rushing
– 6th in Overall Defense pic.twitter.com/p9Cb0Dv33j— PFF LA Rams (@PFF_Rams) December 6, 2019
Littleton is in the final year of his contract and is sure to break the bank next year, whether it’s with the Rams or another team. Being named to the Pro Bowl would’ve boosted his stock and increased his negotiating leverage as a free agent, but it also would’ve put his name on the map among casual fans outside of Los Angeles.
He’ll get there eventually – possibly this year when injury replacements are announced – but regardless, Littleton has shown he’s a premier linebacker in just his second season as a starter.