When I look back over the last few drafts I actually see a plan.
The Rams planned for Whit to retire after his first contract, which would have been after the 2019 season. So they drafted Noteboom in 2018 so he would have a year with the team before taking over at LT. As it turns out Whit signed another 3 year contract, but the point is the Rams prepared for what seemed like his likely retirement ahead of time.
I bet the Rams make a genuine effort to re-sign Noteboom and either Allen or Corbett. IMO they will succeed in that effort, leaving them one spot in the starting OL to fill ... but there's no guarantee that will happen. And the Rams know that. In fact, they've anticipated this situation for years. That's why the planned ahead for this scenario.
They drafted Notebook, Allen, and Demby in 2018 and signed Kolone as an undrafted FA.
They drafted Edwards and Evans in 2019, signed Brewer as an undrafted FA, plucked Shelton from AZ's practice squad, and also signed DJackson from the NE practice squad.
They drafted Anchrum in 2020.
They signed Alaric Jackson as an undrafted FA in 2021 and brought in Max Pircher thru the International Player Pathway program.
And they added Ealy this year.
So that's 13 OL brought in over the last 3 years with the likely hood that at least 1 will be drafted and at least 1 signed as an undrafted FA.
If the Rams re-sign Noteboom and one of the other FAs as expected they will have on spot on the starting OL to fill, which I am confident they can do from the guys already in the pipeline.
If the Rams let 2 or all 3 of them walk I will be concerned. What would that mean? That they think they have two or three new starters ready to step up? Maybe they do - I don't get to see their practices. Or maybe they have potential trades in mind?
However it turns out, I am confident that this has been on the Rams' radar for years and they have not been caught off guard by having 3 starters hit the FA market at the same time.
AlbaNY_Ram
