Cory Littleton, Nick Kwiatkoski Lead Young Las Vegas Raiders

There’s no question the Las Vegas Raiders are young on defense as they approach the 2020 opener against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

In the starting lineup for the Silver and Black are second-year men Maxx Crosby and Clelin Ferrell at defensive end, Trayvon Mullen at cornerback and Johnathan Abram at safety, plus rookie Damon Arnette at the other cornerback spot.

So the Raiders were looking for some leadership, not to mention quality play from the veteran free agents they have signed, and found it in linebackers Cory Littleton and Nick Kwiatkoski.

Even outside the Raiders organization, those upgrades have been duly noted.

“The linebacker unit got two rapid upgrades with the signings of Cory Littleton and Nick Kwiatkoski,” wrote Anthony Treash of Pro Football Focus. “Littleton has made his name known as one of the top coverage linebackers, as he has recorded an NFL-high 20 pass breakups plus interceptions since 2018.

“Kwiatkoski shined in every facet of play in a rotational role and filling in for injuries for Chicago, as he was one of six linebackers to produce a 70-plus grade as a run defender, a pass-rusher and in coverage since 2017.”

Littleton and Kwitakoski both are strong against the run, in addition to having the speed to cover running backs coming out of the backfield and tight ends running down the field in the passing game.

This is something that was noticed right away by their new teammates.

“It looks like day and night, truthfully,” Abram said after watching Littleton and Kwiatkoski in training camp. “I mean, we’ve gotten faster on every single position on offense and defense. But the linebacker corps does stick out.

“Nick Kwiatkoski came in and he’s the general. He’s calling the defense just like he’s been in it from honestly when he started it with (defensive coordinator Paul Guenther). That’s how well he knows this system. And then we got Cory Littleton, who’sbasically like playing with another safety.

“It’s just a totally different corps. It’s an entirely different unit. The defense just looks way faster and way better.”

The Raiders ranked last in the NFL over the last two seasons by allowing 8.0 yards per target on passes to running backs and tight ends, as their linebackers lacked the speed to stay with them.

That’s why General Manager Mike Mayock and Coach Jon Gruden went after Littleton and Kwiatkoski in free agency.

“In this game of football we play today it’s paramount and it’s an area that we needed to address, and fortunately there were some good linebackers available in free agency,” Gruden said. “Obviously we made that a priority.”

Added Guenther: “As a linebacker nowadays in the NFL, they’re going to get you matched up with tight ends and running backs and those types of things. “(Littleton) can cover. He can cover ground in a very short amount of time.”

The 6-3, 228-pound Littleton, who signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent out of Washington in 2016, went from being a standout on special teams to being one of the best cover linebackers in the NFL.

His 26 passes defended are the most of any linebacker in the NFL over the last three seasons, according to SportRadar.

Littleton likes what he sees in the young Raiders defense.

“To be honest, I don’t think there’s a lot of things that need to change with what’s already here,” said Littleton, a Pro Bowl selection in 2018 who has six interceptions and four fumble recoveries in his pro career.

“At the end of the day, to myself, it just comes down to a want-to. And me coming here, I see the same type of hunger that we had when we were in L.A. coming off of losing seasons and wanting to be better because you know that you can. Everybody is here motivated to doing just that.”

The 6-foot, 242-pound Kwiatkoski was selected in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft (No. 113 overall) out of West Virginia by the Chicago Bears, and in four seasons with the Monsters of the Midway, he made 184 tackles, six sacks, eight pass deflections and forced four fumbles.

Last season alone, he had 76 tackles, three sacks, an interception, and four passes defended.

“The process for me doesn’t change,” said Kwiatkoski, even though it was obvious from the start with the Raiders that he would be a starter, has been named a team captain, and is calling defensive signals. “I kind of had that mindset even in Chicago. … Preparing like I’m a starter, preparing like I was going to get reps is something I’ve prided myself on over the last couple of years.

“Yeah, I did it a bunch (of calling signals) in Chicago, off and on since the time I was there. So it’s something I’m used to.”

Littleton and Kwiatkoski are exactly what the Raiders’ young defense needed, a couple of leaders.

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