LA Rams: Evaluating the cornerstone positions heading into 2020

The LA Rams must evaluate four cornerstone positions as the 2020 season draws near

Winning NFL teams build their roster according to the golden rule of unwritten football standards. To date, the LA Rams have been able to check all the boxes lately. This season, the team is no longer able to run with last season’s players. Thanks to expiring contracts, the team must now evaluate how each four positions will be filled: quarterback, blind side offensive tackle, edge pass rusher, and shut down cornerback.

Free agency opens before the NFL Draft process begins. The Rams have several prominent players with expired contracts about to test the free agency market. Will the Rams be able to re-sign their stars or should they even try to do so?

OLB Dante Fowler, Jr and LT Andrew Whitworth are two cornerstone position players. Fowler is the team’s premier edge pass rusher. Whitworth protects the quarterback’s blindside at left tackle. They become free agents in March.

The other two cornerstone positions are quarterback and cornerback. QB Jared Goff is the quarterback, whle CB Jalen Ramsey is the elite corner. Those two pieces are set for 2020.

The Rams have to figure how they will fill the edge rush end and left tackle positions before the NFL Draft this year.. Free agents often command high price tags, particularly players who led the league statistically.  While drafted player are less expensive for four seasons, teams have no clue whether incoming rookies can handle the work load of the NFL, let alone start and play well in the team’s scheme.