A few thoughts. One, many of the OL need issues were based on the assumption (mine included) that Havenstein was likely gone. Right or wrong- we'll see- that was not the case. Two, continuity always matters on the OL and having their group miss 25 starts collectively surely hurt them. That said, the silver lining was getting to see Edwards, Evans and Corbett play extensively and all three held their own. The Rams OL of the final 7 games of 2019 was
noticeably better than the train wreck it was in weeks 1-6.
While I would have liked them to take Biadasz at 136 (and also thought Ezra Cleveland at 52 would have made some sense) the 2020 Draft does serve as a reminder of where you can get players. The top-rated center in a draft will likely go top 30 (Ruiz, Bradbury last year) but other center options that could have been nice adds- Hennessy and Cushenberry- went 78th and 83rd, respectively. McCoy was 48th overall last year. LG options like Stenberg and Bredeson went 121st and 143rd overall this year. So, first round pick or not, the Rams can keep adding to their OL in 2021.
On Corbett, on the aggregated list I put together annually he was rated 45th overall in 2018. He was rated between 31st and 64th overall among the 9 sites I used that year with four of the nine having him top 40. He came to the Rams last season and was inserted quickly at LG and held his own pretty well. That's a good sign I think. And Kromer did make comments that his time in Cleveland was probably harmed by not being in a scheme that suited him. The Rams could do a lot worse than him as their 6th man on the OL and, who knows, maybe he wins a starting spot again.
The Rams bought themselves another season to see how Noteboom returns and develops and can now leave him at tackle again where he belongs. He may or may not be a viable LT option for 2021. If not, their 2nd round pick could yield one. Or they'll also be in relatively better cap shape to acquire a veteran in free agency or by trade.
It would be great to have a top 5 OL again. Or top 10. But honestly, what's more important is that it is not a
bottom 10 OL. If they're 15th or 16th or whatever the offense would function much more like 2017 and 2018.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/29/2020 06:23AM by LMU93.
