Here’s jrry32...
This is our line in 2020, unless we make a trade. Our earliest pick was #52, and there wasn't a dominant OL prospect on the board. My point was that we didn't spackle a line together with UDFAs and late round picks. We have a quality LT. We have a RT who struggled last year but was a second round pick and very good in 2017 and 2018.
We have our third round pick from 2019, who performed decently when thrown into the fire. We have our fifth round pick from 2019, who performed decently when thrown into the fire. We have our third round pick from 2018. He looked good at OT, not so much at LG.
We have our fourth round pick from 2018. He didn't look good at Center. We have the #33 pick from 2018. He was serviceable at LG despite joining the team midseason and was expected to be a better C than G. We have the seventh round pick who started at OG on our Super Bowl team and looked decent at C last year.
That's without yet getting into Anchrum, who is a college OT moving inside. He's a pretty talented guy, just short. But his arm length is more than adequate for OG. I also was impressed by Chandler Brewer last year in the little he played. He might end up being something. I don't think we're in dire straights, and I understand why McVay and Kromer are willing to risk it. Let's say we trot out this OL in Week 1:
LT: Whitworth
LG: Evans
C: Corbett
RG: Edwards
RT: Havenstein
6th OL: Blythe
7th OL: Brewer
8th OL: Anchrum
9th OL: Allen
PUP: Noteboom (assuming he's not ready)
Yes, there's uncertainty, but we've seen Whit and Hav consistently be quality starters. Edwards didn't look out of place as a rookie. He SHOULD be better (no guarantees). Evans played serviceably at RT as a rookie and has a skill-set that arguably fits better at OG. He won't have to protect the corner from speedy edge rushers. Corbett has always had a lot of potential at C. Him or Blythe should be able to give us solid or better play at Center.
The thing about an OL is that good OLs are the sum of their parts, not the individuals within it. It's more important to have solid guys across the board than a couple dominant guys surrounded by liabilities, weakest link and all. Yes, it takes some faith, but I think our OL has the ability to get the job done. I can't guarantee it will, but it also is unlikely that the Rams are going to give up on their young OLs after one season.
