LA Rams will scout Group 2 heavily at 2020 NFL Scouting Combine

3 Offensive tackles

I – University of Washington offensive tackle Trey Adams seems every bit to be custom made to follow in the footsteps of LA Rams left tackle Andrew Whitworth. Right now, Adams is a 2020 NFL Draft prospect whose projected range is day one or two.  He is a brute, standing 6-foot-8 and weighing in at 314 pounds. He was on a trajectory to be a top-10 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, but a knee injury derailed those plans, and he remained with the Huskies to play a fifth season.  The first hurdle to his stock rising or falling will be his medical exam.

Adams brings mean to the offensive line. A snarling sort of defiance which raises the level of play of the entire unit. And having him playing behind starting left tackle Andrew Whitworth would only make him better when it becomes his time to start.  He may be gone long before the LA Rams choose at 52. But if he is there, he would be very difficult to pass up.

II – University of Michigan offensive tackle Jon Runyan has great offensive line heritage but is surprisingly still raw and unpolished in his play. Runyan is one of ten prospects to track through the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine out of the Big-10 Conference.  Runyan is not a day one prospect, but his draft stock is definitely rising after a strong showing at the East-West Shrine Game.

Standing at 6-foot-5 and weighing in at 321 pounds, Runyan is the right body size for big things in the NFL at offensive tackle, but he is in need of additional work in the weight room to improve his lower body strength.  Runyan is another snarler on the offensive line.  He is adept at run-blocking, almost relishing the opportunity to be on the attack with his blocks. The LA Rams have a great track record of coaching up raw talent.  If the Rams miss on Trey Adams, look for them to aim at Jon Runyan on day three.

III – Texas Christian University (TCU) offensive tackle Lucas Niang has shown flashes of brilliance, mixed with flashes of “who cares?”.  Another big-bodied lineman, Niang towers to 6-foot-7 and weighs a mighty 328 pounds. Projected as a mid-round prospect, Niang’s flashes of brilliance are very much just that – brilliant.  He pushes folks around at the line of scrimmage, tossing defenders to the side like a snow plowing paving a snow-covered highway.  He has the right size and athleticism to dominate at pass-blocking, but his footwork needs more polish.

Niang was the right tackle throughout his college career. That could translate as difficulty transitioning to the more important, and difficult, left tackle position.  He is an NFL caliber run-blocker out of the gates. But he does not shuffle step when sitting back for pass-blocking, raising his center of gravity and allowing defenders to get a leverage advantage at times.  He may not be the perfect offensive lineman, but he’s a top prospect for the coaching talents of the LA Rams.