7. Cory Littleton, Las Vegas Raiders
Depending on your point of view, Littleton might have been one of the biggest signings of this past free agency period. After starting his career as a special teamer with the Los Angeles Rams, Littleton carved out a role the past two seasons in the heart of the Rams’ defense. Thanks to his athleticism and coverage skills, he stays on the field in every situation, and he can be trusted to run with any class of receiver, from tight ends to running backs and true wideouts.
This interception of Cam Newton is a prime example of how his athleticism and awareness makes him a threat underneath. He drops into a hook zone and reads the quarterback’s eyes, then breaks on a throw to the slot defender and using his length is able to pull in the football:
Forced fumble and and an interception for Spring Valleys Cory Littleton pic.twitter.com/3DqxESg0ov
— Judson Richards (@Judson1360) September 8, 2019
An area where Littleton also stands out is as a tackler. Over the past four season he has been charted with just 18 missed tackles, including only a single miss last season. Those kind of numbers enable him to make an impact on all levels of the field. The Raiders’ defense struggled to get off the field last season, and a linebacker such as Littleton should help improve that measure in the season to come.