5 moves to free $80 million – LA Rams path to more salary cap space

Step 4 – Trade Rob Havenstein

The LA Rams offensive line took a tumble in 2019.  The team projected the loss of veterans Rodger Saffold and John Sullivan, and planned to fill the vacancies with first time starters Joseph Noteboom and Brian Allen. While both Noteboom and Allen fell to season ending injuries, neither played well in their debuts.  Making matters worse, right tackle Rob Havenstein played poorly as well before his season ended with an injury.

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Now Havenstein is returning to an offensive line to join teammates he no longer recognizes. The team will likely line up Bobby Evans, Austin Corbett, Coleman Shelton, David Edwards, and Rob Havenstein as the roster stands today.  Yet Havenstein struggled to play well with new teammates, and is coming off an injury this year.  The team found promising rookie starters for the offensive line in both Bobby Evans and David Edwards in 2019.  The Rams also traded for Austin Corbett, who also proved he can compete as a starter. With Coleman Shelton ripe to pick up a starting role at center, the Rams have a nearly a brand new starting offensive line for 2020.

Only Rob Havenstein is the odd man out.  If the Rams successfully trade him, the team saves a substantial $5,400,000 to add back to the 2020 salary cap. And the team may pick up an additional day two 2020 NFL Draft pick as well. While Havenstein could prove to be a steal for his next NFL team, he simply did not play well surrounded by younger players last season.  With that history, and coming off an injury, there is little reason to expect him to play significantly better this year.

That pushes the Rams available cap space over $80 million. We’re coming down to the home stretch now.