The LA Rams re-signed virtually all 2019 offensive linemen. But early in the 2020 NFL Draft, will the team shock anyone by trading away RT Rob Havenstein?
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The LA Rams ended the 2019 NFL season with a 9-7 record, and just five picks in the 2020 NFL Draft. But that was before the team claimed a 2020 third-round compensatory pick (number 104), and before the team traded for a second-round pick from the Houston Texans by trading away wide receiver Brandin Cooks.
But the pattern of the LA Rams pre-draft meetings suggests that the team would like to address nice different positions in the 2020 NFL Draft: LB, ER, DL, CB, WR, TE, RB, OC& OT.
That suggests that the Rams will need more NFL draft picks than their current stockpile of seven. Of course, the team could trade back, and there are many teams openly discussing a variety of trade back and trade-up options on draft day. But the basic requirements of any trades still apply. The Rams must hold something of value for another team, the other team must hold something of value for the Rams, and both teams must see more value in what the other team offers. On draft-day with limits to technology, the Rams may not be able to negotiate a suitable trade within the time allowed.
Of course, the time consumed on draft day is the pick for pick assessment based upon the draft board that exists when the trade is executed. But there are other trade scenarios to consider. What about a player for pick(s) trade scenario? As we’ve analyzed the LA Rams position heading into the 2020 NFL Draft, one player’s name keeps surfacing as the logical choice for a draft-day trade, that of OT Rob Havenstein.
Starting offensive tackles seller’s market
Many teams need offensive linemen this year. That’s why the NFL Free Agency market for young offensive linemen was so aggressive this year. And it’s why may mock drafts suggest that six offensive tackles will come off the board in round one of the 2020 NFL Draft. All of these independent forces are creating a solid market for the LA Rams to pursue fielding calls for right tackle Rob Havenstein.
The Rams are committing to a youth movement along their offensive line. While many NFL teams are trying to find 2020 starters, the Rams have a luxury of drafting in 2020 for 2021 starters. That is the reason why the team re-signed Austin Blythe and Andrew Whitworth. But adding them, plus center Coleman Shelton, to the existing roster has the Rams loaded with players who may have starting potential in 2020, but who will need time both in practice and in the preseason to get there.
Move OT merchandise
Which means the Rams have too many offensive linemen at the same plateau right now. It makes sense as the Rams added two offensive linemen in the 2018 NFL Draft, two more in the 2019 NFL Draft, and then, due to injuries, were forced to add two more in 2019 midseason. That’s six offensive linemen over 18 months. And if the pre-draft meetings hold true, the Rams intend to add two more offensive linemen in the 2020 NFL Draft. Something has to give.
The Rams COULD attempt to trade one of their multiple young prospects. But the value of those prospects may be more in favor of the Rams retaining the player than to trade them. What is the market value of a Joseph Noteboom right now? A young player coming off injury who did not impress with his Rams’ debut in 2019. What about David Edwards, a young man who did step up for the team late in 2019?
Of course, those same questions could be asked of the LA Rams’ Rob Havenstein. The difference is that Havenstein has played at that NFL level and has been a starter on a super bowl team’s offensive line. Havenstein played poorly in 2019 and then was injured as well. But of the LA Rams plentiful offensive linemen, the easiest to trade and receive something of value in this draft is Havenstein. So what could he bring about for the Rams in return? Of course, that will truly depend upon the team and the urgency. He should be able to get a draft value of a second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. For the right tea
Reason one- Young enough to fit rebuilding team profile
Rob Havenstein is just 27 years old. that means in terms of the NFL life cycle, he has a good five-six years of productive value before a team will be forced to reevaluate the position. While he is young enough to have plenty of productive years remaining in his NFL career, he has already proven to the NFL that he can play at a very good level.
And for teams in the hunt for their franchise quarterback, the incentive to ensure good offensive line play is a rather high priority. If a team invests a valuable first-round pick in a quarterback, the team is virtually obliged to invest in an offensive line to protect that quarterback.
The Miami Dolphins are a curious team in the 2020 NFL Draft. The team holds three first-round picks, and will most certainly choose a quarterback at pick number five. The team will likely want to add an elite skill player at pick number 18. But by the time the Dolphins return for their third selection in round one, many of the best offensive tackles will be off the board.
Faced with the likelihood of swinging and missing for a defensive player like Edge rusher Yetur Gross Matos out of Penn State or trading for a field-tested NFL veteran offensive tackle to protect their new quarterback, I could see plenty of justification to trade the 26th pick of the 2020 NFL Draft to the LA Rams for Havenstein. The Dolphins make this pick because no offensive tackle is better at 26. The LA Rams make this pick since the team has committed to David Edwards, and can afford to select an offensive tackle to develop in 2020.
Reason two – More certain than NFL rookie
The greatest struggle in drafting an NFL rookie offensive lineman is the sheer patience involved in waiting for that player to develop into a true NFL veteran. Regardless of the round or pick, offensive linemen take time to become good. Some of that reason lies in the fact that the offensive lineman depends so heavily upon his teammates in a game.
NFL rookies at the offensive line must not only adapt to a new city, a new team, but also to a new group of teammates. Offensive lines are judged just as much as a unit as judged as five individual players. All of those changes and relationships take time to build, all of which happen simultaneously to learning an NFL playbook and understanding blocking assignments.Life comes at you fast as an NFL rookie. That is why the 2020 NFL Free Agency market for offensive tackles signing their second contract was so active. NFL teams understand that the most valuable time for an offensive tackle happens during their second contract, or from years five through eight. The current market for offensive tackles is $10 million / year. Right now, Havenstein is playing on a contract that extends to 2022 and pays less than $8 million per year. His price tag will not be the least bit discouraging to a potential NFL trade partner.
Reason three – May no longer fit LA Rams youth movement
The LA Rams resigned center Austin Blythe to a one-year deal and offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth to three-year-but-works-like-a-one-year deal. The plan is for the Rams to develop a backup to take over at left tackle and center in 2021. But the Rams already have a young starter at right tackle in David Edwards.
Where does Rob Havenstein fit in that mix? If the team demotes David Edwards, do they swap players if Havenstein plays poorly in 2020? Havenstein may have created the current Rams offensive line strategy. When he went down to injury in 2019, the team was forced to reinforce the offensive line ranks. The team traded for backup lineman Austin Corbett and signed center Coleman Shelton off the Arizona Cardinals practice squad. Committing that 2020 fifth-round pick in 2019 essentially forced the Rams to go all-in with a younger offensive line. The team was able to reintroduce Blythe at the center and maintained Whitworth at the left tackle, but the final games did not see Havenstein at the right tackle.
The LA Rams have the potential to use the 2020 NFL Draft to squeeze an NFL team desperate for a 2020 starting offensive tackle out of a valuable draft pick. And the team has plenty of surplus at the offensive line to do so without impacting their own 2020 success. Do the Rams have momentum from 2019 they wish to build upon? It certainly seems that way, right down to bringing back Johnny Mundt, who was so instrumental in two tight-end sets to help with the blocking schemes.
