Las Vegas Raiders: Free agency grades for every signing thus far
It’s been a busy 2020 NFL free agency period for the Las Vegas Raiders but has every signing they’ve made been a winner? Grading every move thus far.
The Las Vegas Raiders are heading to a new city but, if they want to succeed under head coach Jon Gruden and general manager Mike Mayock as they arrive in Sin City, upgrading the roster was critical. After shockingly finishing third in the AFC West in the 2019 season, the Raiders still had plenty of room for improvement, which started with 2020 NFL free agency.
Mayock and Gruden have not been stingy with their substantial funds to work with on the free agency market and have handed out several contracts on both sides of the ball to try and improve. While some signings have been of the blockbuster or big-time variety, others have been more subtle with the intention of filling out depth on the margins of the 53-man roster.
But either way, every deal handed out in free agency is important, both from an on-field and financial aspect. So with over a week passed since the legal tampering period began, let’s look at every signing the Las Vegas Raiders have made and hand out a grade.
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 3-yr/$35.25 million. A+. LB. Cory Littleton. player. 28
For years, linebacker has been a glaring need for the Raiders and, more specifically, their lack of a player who can consistently cover tight ends and running backs from the position has really bitten them a number of times. But with Cory Littleton now coming to Las Vegas, that has been answered in perhaps the best way possible.
Littleton has earned the reputation as one of the best coverage linebackers in the NFL throughout his career and has been consistently living up to it with the Rams. He has the ability to hang with any tight end, which he proved against the likes of George Kittle in the NFC West, and also has the athleticism to shadow most any running back as well.
Not only does the arrival of Littleton address one of the most glaring defensive needs for the Raiders but he also comes at a relative bargain. The linebacker was projected to make $2-3 million per year than what the silver and black will be paying him, which makes this a near-perfect addition for the Raiders.