Jarvis Landry, Cleveland Browns. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
He’s been a productive but underrated performer. Where could Los Angeles Rams’ linebacker Cory Littleton wind up when NFL free agency opens on March 18?
He’s been a high-volume defender during his NFL stint. Former undrafted free agent Cory Littleton joined the Los Angeles Rams back in 2016. The one-time University of Washington Husky has not missed since joining the organization and has started all 16 contests each of the past two seasons. It’s the past two years that have certainly opened up some eyes when it comes to the versatile performer.
In 2019, Littleton led Sean McVay’s club with 134 tackles, four fumble recoveries and nine passes defensed. He also came up with a pair of forced fumbles as well as 3.5 quarterback traps. One year earlier, he was also the club’s leading tackler with 125 stops and also paced Wade Phillips’ defense with 13 passes defensed. Add in four sacks and three sacks and he was a no-brainer Pro Bowler in 2018.
But Phillips is out and Brandon Staley is the new defensive coordinator. And the Rams may not be able to afford the four-year pro as he figures to be heavily sought should he hit the open market when NFL free agency starts on March 18. Here are five clubs that could certainly use his services.
5. Cleveland Browns
New defensive coordinator Joe Woods got to see Littleton up close and personal in 2019. He was on the staff of the San Francisco 49ers so he got to see the former Pro Bowler in action twice. Now he takes over in Cleveland and looks to fix a unit that was a mediocre 22nd in total yards while only two teams in the league surrendered more yards on the ground.
Now ponder this. Linebacker Joe Schobert led the club in tackles this past season and in 2017 and was second in ’18. Christian Kirksey was the Browns’ leader in stops back in 2016 and played in all 64 games from 2014-17. But the latter was limited to a combined nine contests the past two years and was recently released by the franchise. Meanwhile, Schobert is on the verge of testing free agency unless something changes quickly.
Can anyone say no-brainer when it comes to Littleton?