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NFL free agency: 5 under-the-radar players 49ers should target in 2019

By Aaron Tan

SANTA CLARA, CA - SEPTEMBER 21: Carlos Hyde #28 of the San Francisco 49ers is stopped short of the goal line by Cory Littleton #58 of the Los Angeles Rams during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on September 21, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - SEPTEMBER 21: Carlos Hyde #28 of the San Francisco 49ers is stopped short of the goal line by Cory Littleton #58 of the Los Angeles Rams during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on September 21, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – NOVEMBER 4: Cory Littleton #58 of the Los Angeles Rams tackles Mark Ingram II #22 of the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on November 4, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Saints defeated the Rams 45-35. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – NOVEMBER 4: Cory Littleton #58 of the Los Angeles Rams tackles Mark Ingram II #22 of the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on November 4, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Saints defeated the Rams 45-35. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

No. 2: Inside Linebacker Cory Littleton

The one weakness that the unstoppable Rams were supposed to have was the inside linebacker position. It was widely speculated that opposing teams were going to be able to exploit the Rams defense because they just simply had no quality linebackers.

However, Cory Littleton proved everybody wrong. To me, he has been one of the biggest surprises of the 2018 NFL season, as Littleton has proven to be a top-notch linebacker that can stuff the run and play solid pass defense, leading Los Angeles in tackles. However, since he is playing with an All-Pro level supporting cast, he hasn’t been getting a ton of recognition.

Littleton is a restricted free agent — the only one on this list. This means that the 49ers would have to provide an offer sheet for Littleton, and the Rams would have to match it in order to keep him. If I was John Lynch, I would be willing to give up a lot for Littleton as plugging him in along with Fred Warner would make the 49ers defense legitimately scary.

Plus, the Rams have a lot of other contracts in NFL free agency to worry about. Too many stars on a team all at once means that you are going to have to let some go. Littleton is a candidate to be one of those players.