Cory Littleton has earned the title of one of the premier coverage linebackers in the NFL, but he wasn't always a well-respected prospect.
The former University of Washington Husky went undrafted in the 2016 NFL Draft, but the Los Angeles Rams took a flier on him. Littleton specialized as a pass rusher in college, but given his size, the Rams' coaching staff thought he would be best suited as a linebacker. Playing in 16 games his rookie season, Littleton earned more playing time on defense after carving out an important role on special teams.
Special teams isn't the most glamorous job, but its impact on the game is undeniable, which is why undrafted players need to understand its benefits.
"My thing is always 'find your value,'" Littleton said Sunday. "My start was playing special teams, that's where my value was. I ended up making some plays out there and I noticed throughout the years that those plays change games completely and change the whole turn out and got us wins. That's still a part of the game to this day."
During his four-year tenure with the Rams, Littleton went from special teams role player to full-time starter, totaling 37 starts, six interceptions, 26 passes defensed, two forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, eight-and-a-half sacks, and 315 tackles. Littleton was one of the most highly coveted free agents this offseason, and after going undrafted, receiving his first major contract from the Las Vegas Raiders was rewarding.
"It was a great feeling," Littleton recalled. "Something that you work for every day when you come out on the field. Me coming to the Raiders, I just really wanted to continue my career and the Raiders seemed like a good fit for myself and they were open to me coming in and I'm just happy they made the decision to bring me in."
View photos of the Raiders last training camp practice before pads go on at Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III (11) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Dallin Leavitt (32) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia and safety Lamarcus Joyner (29) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Keisean Nixon (22) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Datone Jones on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski (44) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders center Rodney Hudson (61) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Datone Jones on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders tight ends coach Frank Smith and tight end Jason Witten (82) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach Jon Gruden on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Nathan Peterman (3) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Bryce Hager (54) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders offensive coordinator Greg Olson on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Lynn Bowden Jr. (33) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Paul Guenther and Head Coach Jon Gruden on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Damon Arnette (20) and safety Johnathan Abram (24) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Cory Littleton (42) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Datone Jones on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Maliek Collins (97) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib (94) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Kendal Vickers (78) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Cory Littleton (42) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Kyle Wilber (58) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders long snapper Trent Sieg (47) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Madre Harper (43) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive back Ken Crawley (35) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive back Damarious Randall (23) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Dallin Leavitt (32) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Rico Gafford (10) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Zay Jones (12) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Nelson Agholor (15) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Lynn Bowden Jr. (33) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Devontae Booker (34) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Datone Jones on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Daniel Ross (93) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle Kamaal Seymour (63) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders offensive lineman Andre James (68) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders guard Jordan Roos (60) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle Brandon Parker (75) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Clelin Ferrell (96) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Maurice Hurst (73) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Nick Usher (59) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver De'Mornay Pierson-El (17) and cornerback Dylan Mabin (37) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Foster Moreau (87) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller (83) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Erik Harris (25) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Nevin Lawson (26) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Paul Guenther on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins (90) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Lynn Bowden Jr. (33) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) and cornerback Damon Arnette (20) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders punter AJ Cole (6) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Derek Carrier (85) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Trayvon Mullen (27) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Nicholas Morrow (50) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Devontae Booker (34) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Lynn Bowden Jr. (33) and wide receiver Henry Ruggs III (11) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III (11) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Amik Robertson (41) and wide receiver Bryan Edwards (89) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Nelson Agholor (15) and wide receiver Bryan Edwards (89) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Nelson Agholor (15) and tight end Foster Moreau (87) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Trayvon Mullen (27) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders center Rodney Hudson (61) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders guard Richie Incognito (64) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle David Sharpe (72) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Tanner Muse (55) and guard Lester Cotton Sr. (67) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders offensive lineman Jordan Devey (65) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) huddles the team on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) and running back Josh Jacobs (28) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski (44) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Javin White (53) on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach Jon Gruden huddles the team on the field for practice at 2020 Training Camp.
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It's been years since the Raiders possessed a group of linebackers capable of covering everything in between the hash marks, but they finally have a duo in Littleton and Nick Kwiatkoski who can change the makeup of the defense.
Former Los Angeles Ram Lamarcus Joyner played alongside Littleton for four years, serving key roles in the team's 2018 postseason run to the Super Bowl. Reunited, Joyner knows firsthand how the addition of Littleton will help make everyone's job on defense a little easier.
"With a defense like [Paul Guenther's], where you have to trust the man next to you," Joyner said Friday, "he's very trustworthy and he's going to allow the players at the safety and nickelback position to make a lot more plays, trusting that he'll be there to help you out with leverage."
Littleton's football IQ is impressive, but fellow new addition Jeff Heath says his athleticism is on par with his knowledge of the game. In the short time the Raiders have been practicing during training camp, Heath has observed Littleton from the third level of the defense and watched him react to plays as they develop.
"I think the first thing that stands out is his athleticism," Heath said Sunday. "He moves like a [defensive back] but he's in a linebacker's body. He's very fast and very fluid. This league is all about matchups now and offenses will have so many different guys at every position that can win down the field. Quick, agile, fast, so you have to have guys on defense to match up with those type of players. The days of the 265-pound linebacker doesn't leave the hashes, that's tough in today's game."
Gone are the days of the Brian Urlacher and Ray Lewis prototypes, the hybrid linebacker is the future and it's required to cover the league's dynamic tight ends, especially in the AFC West. Littleton is going to be a major reason the Raiders' defense takes a step forward in 2020 and beyond.
