The NFL Free Agency period is just over a week away, and that means there will soon be a flurry of player movement throughout the league. With over $50 million in cap space, the Raiders are expected to be one of the busiest teams in the NFL over the next few weeks as they likely search for help on the defensive side of the ball.
One position the team could try to upgrade ahead of the NFL Draft is at linebacker. The Raiders just don’t have many competent linebackers on their squad, and this upcoming draft class isn’t the deepest at that position.
A player that would make a lot of sense for the Raiders in free agency is Pro Bowl linebacker Cory Littleton, who is expected to leave the Rams this offseason.
In a recent piece by Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report, Littleton was named the dream free-agent signing for the Raiders. Take a look at why Knox believes the fit would be perfect for both parties:
The Las Vegas Raiders finished the 2019 season ranked 25th in pass defense. The Raiders could improve that ranking by adding one of the league’s premier pass-defending linebackers in Cory Littleton.
Littleton recorded nine passes defended to go with two interceptions and 134 tackles with the Los Angeles Rams in 2019. Naturally, he would also be an asset for Las Vegas’ run defense. If the Raiders do pursue Littleton, they’ll have plenty of competition for his services.
If the Raiders were able to secure a player such as Littleton in free agency, that would allow them to select the best players available at picks No. 12 and No. 19. While they could certainly still draft another linebacker with one of those selections, their hands wouldn’t be forced into any picks.
Look for Littleton to be one of the highest-paid linebackers in free agency over the next few weeks and for the Raiders to potentially have interest in the 2018 Pro Bowler.
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