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

The LA Rams enter the new season with a trio of new coordinators and new strategies. Here are 5 LA Rams players who, for various reasons, won’t be back.

With the arrival of the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, fans of the LA Rams can embrace the warm and fuzzy feeling of optimism as each standout performance by an NCAA college football player eager to impress NFL scouts and executives is potentially a performance sealing their selection by the LA Rams in the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft.

But behind the welcome mat on the doorstep of each NFL team lies the sad partings.  It’s a business, folks. And the overarching rule of any business is the governance of numbers.  Whether it’s the number of players already in a role or position or the number of dollars it would cost to re-sign the player to a new contract, number rule in the NFL.

The LA Rams decisions are not always based on a player’s performance.  Some decisions are based upon replacement value. That means if the Rams can get similar production by adding a player at a cheaper price, the team will likely do so.  In a similar fashion, the team will also be looking at player versatility as well.

If the Rams’ front office feels that the team can add a player to the roster at an equitable price, but who can play at multiple positions or adds new dimensions to the role, the Rams will likely do so as well.

Finally, the LA Rams, as well as all other 31 NFL teams, reserve the right to part ways with any player at their discretion. With three new coordinators, some players may not align with the new schemes. We know that new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley is seeking to disguise the LA Rams defense. We also know that new offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell will plan the offense to each week’s opponent.  Finally, we know that running back’s coach Thomas Brown has incorporated the fullback wherever he coached and that the LA Rams would absolutely be open to adding a fullback to the offense this season.

Safety Eric Weddle

The first loss of a Rams’ player for the 2020 season had already occurred when veteran safety Eric Weddle declared his retirement from the NFL. Prior to that announcement, we had already named Weddle as a likely cap casualty. With the return to health of safety John Johnson and the surprising proficiency of rookie safety Taylor Rapp, Weddle suddenly became the odd man out in the defensive backfield.

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Weddle played very well for the LA Rams and was huge for the team when Johnson fell to injury. His 2019 numbers skyrocketed in fact. His tackles in 2019 rose by nearly 60 percent, despite playing a similar number of defensive snaps from the previous season. He was second overall on the team for tackles, trailing only inside linebacker Cory Littleton.

But the Rams saw the dominance of both Rapp and Johnson in pass coverage, and understandably want to see more of both in 2020.  Both Johnson and Rapp pulled down two interceptions apiece, while Weddle could not come up with one all season.

Of course, Weddle’s retirement opens the Rams roster for depth at the safety position and the team will likely look to the NFL Draft to fill the opening.  We were less prognosticating as simply seeing the writing on the wall for Weddle. More writing on the wall to follow.

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.

Running back Malcolm Brown

The LA Rams have counted on backup running back Malcolm Brown for several years. And he has answered the call to step up and take snaps for the team whenever needed. In 2019, he started the season as though he was destined to finally have a breakout season.  He scored two touchdowns in the season opener against the Carolina Panthers, more than his entire NFL career up to that point.

But the moment passed. Brown fell to injury, and upon his return fell back into the same old seldom-used pattern which has been the LA Rams trademark since 2016.  Brown is a relatively inexpensive player at just $1.1 million. Still, if the Rams won’t give Brown touches, that’s just salary cap money yielding next to nothing for the team.

We dove into Brown’s draft profile and discovered some curious facts. Brown is neither the fastest nor the strongest running back. He succeeds when he is given the chance to punish defenders and wear them down over the span of the first three quarters. In that way, when the fourth quarter arrives, he seems much faster and more powerful and can get his 100 yards rushing in the game.

That won’t happen while he plays on the  LA Rams.  So we believe it makes complete sense for both the player and the Rams to trade him to a team willing to allow him to compete for touches.  While this could net the Rams a 2021 NFL Draft pick, likely in the sixth or seventh round, that would add to the light quiver of picks the team currently has.

Wide receiver JoJo Natson

Small and speedy wide receiver Jojo Natson has delivered some memorable punt and kickoff returns for the LA Rams over the years. He does that very well and has carved out a niche for himself on the LA Rams roster in recent years.

The new trend among the NFL teams is versatility.  Players who can fill multiple roles. While that reduces specialization, and therefore the opportunity to excel at any one thing, it gives NFL teams the ability to be flexible in calling plays and disguising schemes.

Natson is a niche player. At 5-foot-7 and just 153-pounds, he simply does not have the build to be durable enough for significant usage in an NFL game, let alone the 16 game season.  The Rams justified using him in about 20 percent of the special teams plays with his rookie contract which cost just $645,000.  Now that Natson is a restricted free agent, he could be seeking a contract of $1.5-2 million. That’s simply more than these LA Rams will be willing to pay.

Natson is a huge impact on the LA Rams return game. He averaged over 22 yards per kickoff return in 2019.  But the Rams will be looking to make better use of that roster spot, and his potential 2020 salary cap hit.

The Dallas Cowboys, having poached both Rams’ special team coaches, will be more than happy to offer Natson his next contract. Meanwhile, the Rams could look to add a speedster in the NFL draft or an undrafted free agent to duplicate the price and production of Natson in 2020.

Cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman

Cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman is a solid defensive back for the LA Rams. Very solid, indeed. He is the LA Rams slot corner specialist, a versatile defensive back designation for the third of three cornerbacks who must cover anyone who lines up in the slot on offense. While many think that is the offense’s third-best receiver, recent formation finds the offense lining up their best wide receiver, a tight end, or even a fast-as-lightning running back in the slot trying to create a mismatch.

So the slot corner must be a player of strength, speed, coverage ability, courage, and a dash of meanness. So far Rams CB Robey-Coleman has checked all the boxes. Right now, the LA Rams have the option of picking up his contract for 2020 for the modest price of $4,500,000.

Pro Football Focus has recognized Robey-Coleman as one of the best slot cornerbacks in the NFL, making its top -20 list at 19. So how can the affordable cost and excellent play place him on a list of players not returning?  Well, it’s a game of numbers, folks.

The Rams have a limited number of snaps in a game. And the team elected to add a significant defensive back talent to the roster at a time when defensive backs were seemingly in surplus for the team.

Robey-Coleman is not Long for this world

Recall the LA Rams chose cornerback David Long in the 2019 NFL Draft with a third-round pick.  Long is a 5-foot-11 196-pound slot cornerback who many had projected to come off the board in round two. At the time, the Rams already had cornerbacks Aquib Talib, Marcus Peters, Nickell Robey-Coleman, and Troy Hill.  The Rams have since parted ways with Talib and Peters and added cornerback Jalen Ramsey.   Why would the Rams consider not bringing Robey-Coleman back in 2020?

Simply stated, the Rams can pick up his option, and trade him for as much as a first-round pick. With so much depth in the 2020 NFL Draft at wide receiver and quarterback, NFL teams will be eager to improve their depth at defensive back. And Robey-Coleman is a proven top-defender in the NFL.  At just $4.5 million, his contract is affordable for even the most cash-strapped teams.

The Rams chose David Long for a reason. Even is spot usage as a rookie, he scored an impressive 67.4 grade from PFF. At an inch taller, 11-pounds heavier at cornerback, he gives the team more flexibility in their pass coverage to do so.  If Brandon Staley wants to rotate coverage to send a DB in a blitz package, David Long Jr. gives the Rams more options.

Sometimes the key to success is to sell high and buy low. Nickell Robey-Coleman is at his peak market value right now as the Rams enter the 2020 off-season. The Rams would be very wise indeed to sign him and then give the Philadelphia Eagles a call for a potential trade. With a draft deep in other areas, the Rams might do very well in that trade.