5 LA Rams players who won’t be back for the 2020 season

Offensive tackle Rob Havenstein

Right tackle Rob Havenstein had just one down season in 2019.  Prior to last season, he was a consistent fixture at the right tackle position for the LA Rams offensive line.  He was a solid offensive lineman and had a contract only the upper echelon possess in the NFL trenches. But my oh my how things have changed over the course of one season.

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The LA Rams offensive line was held together by duct tape, patchwork, and luck last year.  The Rams suffered a constant stream of injuries, first to rookies Joseph Noteboom and Brian Allen, then to veterans Austin Blythe and Rob Havenstein. Plugging the cascade effect of so many injuries on the offensive line forced the Rams to promote rookie offensive linemen David Edwards, Bobby Evans, and trade for Austin Corbett. Corbett cost the team a 2021 fifth-round pick.

When Evans slid into the right tackle role, Edwards in at right guard, and Corbett at left guard, the Rams offensive line stabilized and actually improved somewhat. Enough to encourage coaches and the front office to question Havenstein’s price tag at the right tackle.  Coming off a poor showing and injury, the Rams could decide to stick with the youth movement at offensive line, and place Havenstein on the trading block.

Trading Havenstein before June 1, 2020, will not only save the LA Rams $5,400,000 in salary cap space, but it reduces the log jam at offensive line created by signing so many players to plug holes in the lineup last season. The Rams typically carry eight offensive linemen on the 53-man roster. Most of those linemen will be earning nearly the league minimum, with the exception of veteran offensive tackle Havenstein.

After the 2020 NFL Draft, some teams will no doubt be in the market for a starting offensive tackle. Havenstein could fetch a 2021 draft pick as high as on in the second round. And it would behoove the Rams to grow a new offensive unit this year to build familiarity and trust going forward. Since the team has limited picks in 2021, the logic to trade Havenstein now is sound.