3 reasons why LA Rams must re-sign FA OT Andrew Whitworth

The LA Rams offensive line woes of 2019 left a bad taste. But free agent OT Andrew Whitworth is worth bringing back, at the right price

LA Rams offensive linemen had a tough go of it during the 2019 season. Injured, outgunned, and sometimes even out-coached, the Rams were forced to cobble what seemed to be a new offensive line nearly each week of the long 16 game 2019 NFL season.  Through it all, one lineman stood his ground and did not falter.

That player is 38  year old, 6-foot-7 330 pound left tackle soon-to-be free agent Andrew Whitworth. That is surprising for two reasons:  first of all, Whitworth turned 38 years old in December.  While that is young in many walks of life, it’s rather old to be playing the game of NFL football.  To be that age and protect the quarterback’s blind side at left tackle is almost unheard of.

Whitworth played on a bad ankle virtually the entire 2019 season.  The injury did not send him to the bench, but it was troublesome enough to require post-season surgery.  No doubt Whitworth opted to have the surgery done due to his imminent free agency status. By repairing his right ankle this early, he should be available to go when the 2020 NFL season gets underway

So I’ve established that he’s old, and is a free agent. Why should the Rams want him back?  I’m so glad you asked.

Reason 1: Whitworth is steady freddy on the offensive line

Andrew Whitworth should be awarded an iron-man award for his dependability for play at tackle on the offensive line. In his 14 NFL seasons, he played and started in 211 of the possible 224 games. Add four more games where he played but did not start. That comes out to a staggering 94.2 percent of possible game played.

Wow!

Offensive linemen suffer a staggering number of injuries in any given season.  The sheer torque and power of colliding 300 pound muscular bodies creates untold stress on each play.  Bodies are not linear, as each collision creates movement against other bodies in the same play.

So having an entire uninjured season is very good luck.  Stringing together so many is more than luck or coincidence.  Whitworth must be doing something very right.

So why not plan to give Whitworth a two-year deal. That allows the team to retain such a formidable force on the roster, and adds continuity to the offensive one, where continuity and consistency is desperately needed.

Reason 2: Whitworth willingly mentors younger players

The LA Rams started two new offensive linemen in 2019. By mid season, those two were replaced by two new players. With each new iteration of the offensive line, new players leaned heavily upon the veterans who would give them queues, coach them up, encourage them after a missed assignment, and celebrate with them on a great play.

Whitworth was there each time.  David Edwards gave a post season interview to LA Rams team reporter Sarina Morales, and he had this to say about “Big Whit”

“Whitworth’s been great” – offensive guard David Edwards

Edwards was not the only offensive lineman to benefit from Whitworth’s mentoring. The Rams offensive line was a patchwork quilt in terms of players slotted in for the offensive line.

Another such transplant was guard Austin Corbett, whom the Rams had traded to obtain from the Cleveland Browns mid-season due to the rash of injuries.  He too was interviewed by team reporter Sarina Morales, and his endorsement of Whitworth was even more complimentary:

"“Sarina: Who is the key teammate that you go to throughout all of this change?……………. Austin: I mean, [Andrew Whitworth has] just been phenomenal. You can’t ask for a better guy and just be able to play next to him now. Just the knowledge that he has and just can’t thank him enough. He’s done a lot for me and it’s been phenomenal.“"

These are just two young players experiences. It was that kind of season where there were more coachable moments than coaches.  Offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth took it upon himself to own those moments to the new Rams.

That is the type of selflessness which binds a group of players togetheer into a team.

Reason 3: Rams can’t draft a round two left tackle who can plug and play

“With the 52nd pick of the 2020 NFL Draft, the LA Rams select…” is a phrase that will not name the Rams starting left tackle to begin the 2020 season. That is not to say that the starter cannot be found in the draft. But when selecting 52nd or lower, teams had better have a better option on developing a starter than “plug and play”.

The offensive left tackle is one of the most important positions on any football team.  It’s the blind side guardian for quarterback Jared Goff, and as such typically draws the best pass rushers from the opposing defense.  It is often the site of the fiercest and most violent play on the NFL football field.  A defender rushing with all his might and experience to disrupt the LA Rams pass play.  Only Andrew Whitworth stands in their way. On almost every play.

Entrusting that much responsibility to a young NFL player does not happen in a vacuum.  The next starting left tackle on the offensive line will need to earn that trust: trust by the coaching staff, trust of the other offensive linemen, and most importantly, trust of quarterback Jared Goff. That will take time, and mentoring.  Both of which are specialties of Big Whit.

The right contract price can get ‘er done

While many suspect veterans to be casualties of the data analytics movement, that is not necessarily the case. Some teams have invested heavily into analytics, such as the Philadelphia Eagles, and they have been more than happy to sign NFL veteran free agents to shorter term contracts.

Hopefully, Whitworth’s agent and the LA Rams are not zip codes apart over the dollars on a new contract. The LA Rams do not have a lot of cap space to bargain around, which means they have a limited amount of cap space allotted to sign a free agent to the left tackle spot. If Whitworth’s expectations are too far out of reach, the Rams will shop elsewhere

So far, Whitworth does not sound like a player who will let that happen. He has expressed his hopes of remaining with the Rams often.  This off-season, he is coming off a 3-year $36 million contract, but cannot believe he’ll command nearly that amount in the free agent market this time around. While he will not publicly admit to taking a pay cut to remain a Ram, that is most certainly what he and his agent have discussed privately.

The Rams would be wise to bring Whitworth back, while simultaneously aiming to find his successor in the 2020 NFL Draft.  Still, first things first.  The Rams need a solid left tackle, and Andrew Whitworth has been “that guy” consistently for years.

Ultimately, the 2020 LA Rams will play in their new $5 billion Sofi Stadium sports complex.  It just seems fitting for left tackle Andrew Whitworth to lead the team out of the tunnel for the Rams first home game. And the true bottom line is this – the Rams have failed to prepare for this moment in their depth chart.