LA Rams frugal free agency fix for 2020 offensive line

Taking stock of current players

Before we restock the offensive line with a cast of new faces, let’s take stock of current players on the roster, assess their play, and understand that the team is already committed to them.  We’ll end each player’s quick assessment with a grade of start (a sure starter), compete (will compete for starts in training camp), backup (not quite starter yet, but good depth player), Practice squad, Trade (overvalued contract, not good for team future), Cut (no trade value, need to part ways)

Rams outside linemen

Left tackle

Chandler Brewer – 2020 cap hit $585,000 – 6-foot-6 320 pound 2019 UDFA signing. Brewer is a cancer survivor, an incredible young man who at this time a year ago was fighting for his life undergoing chemotherapy for non-Hodgkins lymphoma.  With that behind him, look for a huge jump in progress. He beat the odds fighting for his life, and did so again by ultimately making it to the teams 53-man roster. Indomitable will is a premium.

Grade: Compete/practice squad

Right tackle

Rob Havenstein – 2020 cap hit $7,800,00 – 6-foot-8 330 pound 2nd round pick from 2015, Havenstein is a veteran right tackle who ended his 2019 season with a right knee injury.  He is one of the “elephant” variety offensive linemen.  While a solid player and one of the remaining offensive linemen from the 2018 Super Bowl team, he has yet to earn the four-year $32.5 million signed in early 2018.  In a normal roster analysis, the objective assessment here would be to presume he is the incumbent starter. But this is the frugal analysis, right?  Havenstein is simply too pricey for the frugal offensive line, and would fetch up to a 2nd round pick if placed on the grade market.

Grade: Trade for second round pick  +  Cap savings $5,400,000

Bobby Evans – 2020 cap hit $847,791 – 6-foot-4 312 pound 3rd round pick from 2019.  Evans was projected for depth but was rushed to start in the onslaught of injuries incurred on the offensive line in 2019.  He arguably played better at right tackle than Havenstein. Of course, part of that was the changes to the offensive game plan which relied less upon deep time-consuming routes.  Evans is an athletic type tackle.  His 2019 performance should earn him the right to compete for the start at right tackle.  If the Rams trades Havenstein, starting at right tackle is his to lose.

Grade: Compete