LA Rams frugal free agency fix for 2020 offensive line

The LA Rams have staffed the offensive line with few assets. Time to deep dive on current players, leading to a frugal fix targeting 2020 NFL free agents

The LA Rams front office has a lot of work remaining in their inbox before the new NFL season begins. For starters, the team needs to fill open coaching positions, as both the running backs coach and special team coordinator positions remain unfilled.  For the moment, that may not be the end of the coaching search.

With so much emphasis on the team to find and develop unrecognized gems among the athletes who are glossed over by other teams, I can’t help but think the team is open to creating a new coaching position – perhaps a new player development coach.  After all, it’s clear that the Rams will be in NFL salary cap purgatory beyond 2020, and as such will need to fast track the development of young talent on the team

In other team news,, the scouting department is rumored to be in the process of retooling towards better scouting of both college and professional athletes who may fit roles for the LA Rams roster at the right price.

The right price. Right now that’s not a very large number in terms of contract value.  It’s also not a large number of free agents. Almost all offensive linemen are looking to get paid copious amounts of money. The current track record of the LA Rams seems to be shove piles of cash at the players, and then make it as much of it guaranteed as possible.

That’s not the approach I recommend for the team to take this off-season. In fact, the only true solution is to adapt a frugal fix for the offensive line this off-season. Frugally fixing this team’s offensive line will  require four very important components: (1) some of the best player scouting and analytics available in the NFL, (2) great patience, (3) great coaching, and then, (4) even more great patience.

Rams offense 2020 identity

Let’s presume that no unrestricted free agents will automatically return to the LA Rams.  Let’s also push off any NFL player who is older than 34.  Why?  We’re looking to lock in offensive line talent for an average of three-four seasons, and still have solid production from those linemen throughout the entire contract.  Now understand, pulling this off typically requires lots of time, data, and collaboration. Right now, we have none of that, so I won’t profess to being the gold standard here for the team free agency moves yet. As to the age restriction? We have one exception, and you’ll see why when we discuss his availablility.

But the concept is legitimate.  Offensive lines can drastically improve with just one or two solid players.  When one position delivers, other offensive linemen learn to focus on their man and not be distracted by trying to help out their neighbor.  For our purposes, the key is to focus on what the team wants to do, and then target the offensive linemen who do that very well.  So what will the LA Rams offense be in 2020?  If the goal is to dethrone the San Francisco 49ers, the items that jump off the page is that they lost three games to mobile quarterbacks, to teams who could control the clock, and to teams able to move the chains.

That sets the team offensive blueprint. Now what does it say about the offensive linemen?  For starters, it’s safe to presume that successful offense has quick linemen.  That means the team will focus less on “elephants” and more towards more athletic offensive linemen.  Think along the lines of former NFL guard Evan Mathis, a 6-foot-5 301 offensive guard.  One more thing, these offensive line will not be marquis names.  If the player is already listed among the “top five” on a list somewhere (except those of the Ramblin’ Fan), they are likely already priced out of the LA Rams market.

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

Rams Interior Linemen

The LA Rams failed to replace outgoing free agent left guard Rodger Saffold and current free agent center John Sullivan. The 2019 result of sliding Joe Noteboom to left guard ended poorly, even moreso when he fell to injury in week six, where the Rams fell to 3-3.  Noteboom scored poorly before the injury, grading out as 74th of 79 NFL guards. Now coming back from a torn ACL/MCL, his future as starting left guard is precarious at best.

Brian Allen, Sullivan’s replacement, suffered an MCL injury during a week nine loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Allen failed to deliver in Sullivan’s wake as well, grading out as one of the worst centers before his injury.

Left guard

Austin Corbett – 2020 cap hit $1,163,490 – 6-foot-4 306 pound Austin Corbett left guard Corbett was obtained via a trade with the Cleveland Browns for the Rams 2021 fifth round pick.  Corbett was the 33rd pick for the Browns in the 2018 NFL Draft. He could not crack the starting lineup for the Browns, but was almost immediately promoted to the starting role. First at center, then at left guard upon moving Austin Blythe to center.  Corbett is an ideal athletic type offensive lineman, and should be considered as the starting left guard for 2020.

Grade: Start

Joseph Noteboom – 2020 cap hit $922,440 – 6-foot-5 321 pound Joe Noteboom hasn’t had much luck in his short NFL career. He was selected with the 89th pick from the 2018 NFL Draft.  A natural tackle, Noteboom switched to interior offensive lineman in the wake of Saffold departing the team via free agency. Going from Pro-Bowl veteran to rookie playing a new position set up the team and fans for disappointing results. But his injury has reset his training cycle and slowed down the pace of information flying at him.  Noteboom had little opportunity to succeed as a rookie.  But sitting on the bench as a backup for 2020 seems like the perfect role for Noteboom.

Grade: Backup

Rams roster – Center position

Center

Brian Allen – 2020 cap hit $831,734 – 6-foot-2 303 pound Brian Allen competed with Joe Noeboom as biggest disappointment from the 2019 season.  Allen did not score very well during his term at center for the LA Rams, ultimately suffering a season ending injury in week nine.  Much like Noteboom, his injury could have a silver lining. If Allen focuses and the game slows down for him, he could be significantly better his sophomore season.  As long as his agility and footwork improve in 2020, he could very well be a competent backup.

Grade: Backup

Coleman Shelton – 2020 cap hit estimated $585,000 (ERFA) – 6-foot-5 299 pound Coleman Shelton is certainly one of the more athletic prospects on the list.  While he arrived late to the scene, primarily due to the wave of injuries to the offensive line.  In our feature article, we pointed to the strengths of Shelton as a primary reason to re-sign him to the team.  The interior linemen struggled with A gap blitzes in 2019 (blitzing between center and guard), as well as counting out to pick up the proper defender.  Shelton will help to improve that quickly. He is versatile and solid.  Think Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, only younger.

Grade: Compete

Nate Trewyn – 2020 cap hit $585,000 – Nate Trewyn is a 6-foot-4 315 pound center who signed on to the LA Rams practice squad in November 2019.  On December 31, 2019, he was one of nine players whom the Rams chose to sign to future reserve contracts. Trewyn is an NFL player from a small school of Wisconsin-Whitewater.  While many small school prospects never get the chance to compete at the NFL level, Trewyn was talented enough to catch the eye of Tony Pauline of Draft Analyst.com.   At Wisconsin’s pro day, Trewyn ran the 40-yard dash in 5.38 seconds, and finished the three-cone drill in 7.69 seconds and the short shuttle in 4.69 seconds.  He’s atheletic enough to take a look at this training camp.

Grade: Backup/Practice squad

Rams Roster – Right Guard

Right guard

David Edwards – 2020 cap hit $651,130 – David Edwards is a 6-foot-6 308 pound guard who the Rams selected with the 169th pick of the 2019 NFL Draft. Edwards was drafted to add depth to the team, but was soon promoted to a starting role as injuries plagued the team’s offensive line. To be fair, Edwards taking over at right guard was the point in time where the offensive line started to improve in 2019.   Whether intended or accidental, Edwards is the presumptive right guard starter for the team in 2020.  He should do a fine job.

Grade: Start

Jamil Demby – 2020 cap hit $660,000 – Jamil Demby is a 6-foot-5 321 pound guard selected by the Rams with the 192nd pick of the 2018 NFL Draft.  This will be Demby’s third season with the team, and he is a bit bigger than the team will likely seek to add in 2020. That does not mean he does not bring value.  Although drafted by the Rams, he spent most of the 2018 on the Detroit Lions practic squad. He was signed late that season, and was a backup on the Super Bowl team.  With the team’s offensive linemen tipping so young, he is a wise inexpensive player to keep on the roster.

Grade: Backup

Jeremiah Kolone – 2020 cap hit $510,000 – Jermiah Kolone is a 6-foot-3 291 pound guard who signed on with the LA Rams as an undrafted free agent (UDFA) in 2018.  He has remained on the Rams practice squad for two seasons, and recently signed a reserve futures contract on December 31, 2019 to remain with the Rams. Despite so many needs for offensive linemen to step up in 2019, Kolone simply never progressed enough to land playing time.  Third time may be the charm, as Kolone has not cracked the permanent roster, nor has he been waived completely.

Grade: Backup/Practice Squad

The fix is in

We took the time to spotlight two very important facts about the LA Rams current offensive line. Barring free agency, the only offensive linemen on the team with a significant contract is right tackle Rob Havenstein. What makes matters worse, Havenstein did not play up to his contract and should be given serious consideration for going on the trade block this season.

So that leaves the LA Rams with no players earning $1 million or more this season?  Well there you are.  The Rams are already subscribing to the Frugal Fix philosophy for the offensive line.  So let’s start peeling back some layers for each position.  To be fair, we will examine a senior veteran, as well as a veteran in his prime. The only stipulation?  The contract price should not exceed $3 million per year.

Two free agents per position, with a solid performance upside and a cheap price tag? It’s not as easy as it sounds, and it doesn’t sound easy.  So now that I’ve set such a high bar, let’s go after the free agent targets.

LA Rams free agent targets Left Tackle

Jason Peters (38) –  estimated2020 cap impact $3 million –  If the LA Rams pursue a veteran left tackle, they had better kick the tires on Jason Peters.  Peters is a 6-foot-4 328 pound 15 year veteran left tackle of the NFL who has practically set the bar for all tackles to come after him.  The Eagles will likely sunset Peters this season, and slide in second year tackle Andre Dillard.  That places Peters on the free agent market.  While plenty of teams will kick the tires, many teams will avoid signing Peters due to his age alone.  That would be a mistake.

Jason Peters has a couple years of football left, and if the Rams start him in 2020, but draft his successor this year in the draft, signing Peters could be a huge value.  Peters has incredible technique, and will help progress the entire offensive line to get better with each week of practice.

Dakota Dozier (29) – estimated 2020 cap impact $3 million – Dakota Dozier would be a great value signing if the Vikings salary cap forces them to go cheaper at left tackle.  Dozier is a 6-foot-4 312 atheltic offensive guard turned tackle.  He was originally drafted and played right guard for the New York Jets for five seasons., where he started seven of 27 games.  He signed on with the Minnesota Vikings for one year at $895,000.

An intriguing aspect of Dozier is that he has a wrestling background.  As the Rams should be getting more athletic on the offensive line, Dozier becomes a natural target for the Rams in the 2020 free agent market. He did start four games for the Vikings at left tackle, and should be in the right price range.

LA Rams free agent targets Left Guard

Mike Iupati (33) – estimated 2020 cap impact $3.0 million –  Mike Iupati is a 6-foot-5 331 pound left guard from the Seattle Seahawks, who started 15 of 16 games in 2019.  Iupati has played for the Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, and Arizona Cardinals in his 10 year career.  We had identified Iupati as a solid free agent target for the Rams in 2020, and we are doubling down on that assessment now.

Not only does signing Iupati weaken a division rival, but he brings a solid ability as a plug-n-play offensive lineman who won’t break the bank.  And the Rams can give Noteboom a chance to heal, and give Corbett a chance to compete for the role, or migrate to another position on the offensive line.

Ereck Flowers (26) – Estimated 2020 cap impact $3.0 million – Ereck Flowers is a 6-foot-6 330 pound former first round pick (9th) from the New York Giants in the 2015 NFL Draft.  While he has never quite developed into the blind side tackle he was projected as from the draft, he is a very versatile offensive lineman – having started at both guards and tackle roles in his NFL career. Flowers started 16 games for the Redskins in 2019. While a bit taller than most teams like at guard, his utility as a plug and play veteran in the prime of his NFL career across multiple positions cannot be overemphasized.  He earned $3.25 million on a one-year deal with Washington, but should be signable with a three or four year deal to average at our $3.0 million target.

Not only is Flowers a significant target for the Rams in the 2020 off-season, but he would be able to remain with former Washington offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell.

LA Rams free agent targets Center

Tony Bergstrom (34) – estimated 2020 cap impact $1.0 million – Tony Bergstrom is a 6-foot-5 310 pound offensive linemen for the Washington Redskins.  A veteran of seven season, Bergstrom is an interior line specialist. He has started at both center and a the guards position. In 2019, he started six of 16 games for the Redskins.  Bergstrom signed a one-year deal with the Washington Redskins for $895,000. With the changing of the entire coaching staff there, and significant familiarity of Kevin O’Connell‘s offense, Bergstrom is a logical target for the Rams in the 2020 NFL free agency market.

Bergstrom is not flashy, elite, or All-Pro. But he is definitely a capable NFL starter for several more years who will hold down the position until a younger player ears the starting role directly. And he has strong connections to Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell, so he would be a logical signing for the team.

Austin Blythe (28) – estimated 2020 cap impact $1.5 million – Austin Blythe is a 6-foot-3 298 pound offensive lineman who had 15 starts for the LA Rams in 2019.  He is the right height and weight to be a solid player for the team at any of the interior line positions and should be given strong consideration to re-sign with the team for a multi-year deal this off-season. The Rams offensive line seemed to be anarchy when the season began, but as the team began to swap out parts, the line seemed to hit bedrock at about mid season. Part of the reason was the play of Blythe at center.

Blythe started the season at right guard, but due to injuries he eventually took over at center and performed better than starting center Brian Allen had. Blythe has four years of experience on the offensive line at all but left tackle positions.  2019 proved just how valuable a versatile lineman can be.  Blythe gets a strong endorsement to be a target for the Rams in 2020 free agency.

LA Rams free agent targets Right Guard

Tom Compton (31) – estimated 2020 cap impact $2.0 million – Tom Compton is a 6-foot-6 315 pound right guard for the New York Jets. He started five games for the Jets before suffering a calf injury and landing on injured reserve.  He is extremely versatile, having NFL experience at right tackle, both guards, and even a 2015 stint at fullback and middle linebacker for the Washington Redskins. He is ideal for what the Rams are looking for in their line – quick off the ball and able to block at the second and third levels on running plays.

Quinton Spain (29) – estimated 2020 cap impact $3.0 million – Quinton Spain is a 6-foot-4 330 pound right guard for the Buffalo Bills.  Spain signed a one-year prove it deal with the Bills, and then started all 16 regular season games for the team.  Despite just playing one season for the Bills, his teammates have already gone public petitioning the team to re-sign him.  Football outsiders shows Spain responsible for just one quarterback sack and two penalties in 16 games. However, he graded below the league average on run blocking, and area the Rams are certain to emphasize as well. Spain could insist upon starting, and with David Edwards playing well at the position, the Rams may not be able to meet that demand. But he is a solid get, and could likely earn a starting role with the Rams.

LA Rams free agent targets Right Tackle

Mike Remmers (31) – estimated 2020 cap impact $2.8 million – Mike Remmers is a 6-foot-5 308 pound right tackle for the New York Giants who started 14 games in 2019.  Remmers is a versatile offensive lineman, having NFL starts at right tackle and both left and right guard. He was recruited to the Giants by former head coach Pat Shurmur and signed a one-year contract for $2.5 million.  While he is not elite, he is very capable and far more affordable at right tackle than Havenstein, and will allow the Rams to coach up his eventual replacement in 2020.

Halapoulivaati Vaitai (27) –  estimated 2020 cap impact $3.0 million – Halapoulivaati Vaitai is a 6-foot-6 320 pound right tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles who started three games for the Eagles in 2019.  He is another very athletic and versatile offensive lineman who served Philly well with his spot starts across the offensive line.  Right now, the Eagles are flush with a deep offensive line roster, and Vaitai ,as well as Peters, will simply be roster and cap casualties this season.  Vaitai has a delicious mean streak when he gets in his zone, and will be an excellent four year player who could truly prove to be an incredible steal.

Frugally fixing the offensive line is doable

So there you are. I won’t do the salary cap math for you to prove that the Rams simply do not have the space to sign the best of the best 2020 offensive linemen free agents.  Until the Rams cut, trade, or renegotiate there way back to about $50-60 million of available cap space, there is not much of a chance for dollars to spare with the Rams intent on signing cornerback Jalen Ramsey, OLB Dante Fowler Jr., DE Michael Brockers, ILB Cory Littleton. Only then will the team talk to veteran left tackle Andrew Whitworth, who many expect will be forced to take a deep discount to return to the team.

If you paid attention, the Rams are already working with very inexpensive offensive linemen for the 2020 season. However the team allocates cap budget for positions, the team has fallen asleep at the wheel by going bargain basement on virtually all offensive linemen on the roster.  For the one lineman who is earning market rate, Rob Havenstein, they are grossly overpaying what he delivered in 2019.

If the Rams commit from $6-9 million to the offensive line in free agency, the team should be able to walk out with four veterans who can start off the season in 2020, giving rookies and second year players time to grow into a starting role with the team.

You may not agree with all free agent targets I’ve identified, and I’m okay with that.  The goal here is to prove that the Rams can frugally fix this offensive line in time to draft BEST PLAYER AVAILABLE and not try to force a draft for need. The Rams are loaded with young talented linemen even now.  What the teams most critical need is signing veteran offensive linemen who can start the 2020 season until the young linemen earn a starting role.