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Las Vegas Raiders: 2021 is Gruden’s chance to finish the rebuild

By Ian Higgins

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - SEPTEMBER 29: Head coach Jon Gruden of the Oakland Raiders talks to Derek Carr #4 during a timeout in the fourth quarter of the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 29, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - SEPTEMBER 29: Head coach Jon Gruden of the Oakland Raiders talks to Derek Carr #4 during a timeout in the fourth quarter of the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 29, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images) /
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SOUTH BEND, IN – OCTOBER 12: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah #6 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in action on defense during a game against the USC Trojans at Notre Dame Stadium on October 12, 2019 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated USC 30-27. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN – OCTOBER 12: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah #6 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in action on defense during a game against the USC Trojans at Notre Dame Stadium on October 12, 2019 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated USC 30-27. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

2020 Starters: Cory Littleton, Nicholas Morrow (FA)

The Las Vegas linebacker group was the focus of investment in the 2020 free agency period, highlighted by Cory Littleton ($35.25 million, three years) and Nick Kwiatkoski ($21 million, 3 years). Although these two were brought in to become the centerpieces of the defense, at least one of these players will find themselves on the outs due to the falling salary cap.

Las Vegas will need to find the substitutes for these unfortunate losses with a value-driven approach, pointing them to the 2021 NFL draft class.

Littleton was brought in to be the speed of the linebacking group and is the most likely victim of the salary cap with his costly back-loaded contract. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah out of Notre Dame is another iteration of the safety-linebacker hybrid and could fulfill this role upon arrival.

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Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah LB

Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football /

Scouting Report

Owusu-Koramoah has been a leading tackler within the Notre Dame defense, using his speed and instinctual play to create tackles for loss.

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The best use of his talents has been covering open space and angles to the boundary as well as chasing down a runner from behind on long-developing power runs to the opposite side of the field.

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