Who knows how Rams’ brain trust see’s this issue?
Several ways to deal with this OL for next year and it will be interesting to see how Rams approach it.
The following is how I see it and how I think Rams see it.
Firstly, don’t expect wholesale personnel moves on OL this coming offseason. That’s not how Rams roll. Not gonna happen.
Here’s what I see as off-season needs:
Upgrades at LOT, OC, LG, and RG. Yeah, that sounds like a lot and it is, but the necessary upgrades may already be on the roster. Bear with me for just a moment.
Let’s talk about LOT first. One strategy might be to draft an LOT with our 2nd rounder, but I would prefer signing a quality FA instead. Worked very well with Whit, right? Yeah, it would be expensive but it would instantly solve our LOT problem with a long term solution. How valuable is that in the O scheme of things? Ask Stafford while I’ll wait. Lol.
This strategy also solves our LG problem both long term and inexpensively by just sliding Jackson over. He’s proven very capable as a quality OG already, right?
Allen is a try-hard guy but his ceiling is maybe as ‘pretty good’, plus he’s always injured, dammit! Rams may want to draft an OC, but I think they like Shelton there a lot. I’m thinking that Shelton is in their master plan at OC. Might not be long term but would definitely be very affordable.
Now we come to RG. Rams seem to have some good options for RG in Shelton (if he’s not the OC), Anchrum, and Bruss. I don’t think they plan on drafting a RG with a premium pick, IOW. No need to use a premium pick to draft one, either, imo.
Obviously, Hav would be the ROT for the foreseeable future.
So here’s my projected starting OL for ‘23.
Stud FA at LOT
Jackson
Shelton
Anchrum
Havenstein
I think that that would be a helluva OL for run blocking AND pass pro, VERY affordable overall, long term (other than Shelton) and didn’t cost a single premium draft pick. Those draft picks will be invaluable if used elsewhere.
Rams would need to bring in only a single outsider to ‘fix’ our OL to at least our ‘21 SB level in this strategy.
It goes without saying that Rams still could and should draft an OL for depth and development every year, but with this strategy they needn’t spend a Day 2 pick on one. Use those for Edge and BPA in a deep RB and TE class.
So, what do y’all think?
