3 reasons Brockers must return for LA Rams 2020 defense

The LA Rams wasted no time resigning DT Michael Brockers after the Baltimore Ravens declined to do so. Here are 3 reasons why it was critical to do so

The LA Rams did not sign Jadaveon Clowney, did not trade up into the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, and did not trade away WR Brandin Cooks. But in some ways, the team may have done something far better for the long term future of the team, and for the fans.  The LA Rams re-signed defensive lineman Michael Brockers after the Baltimore Ravens declined to do so.

The reported deal is a $31.5 million deal over three years, similar to the deal originally offered by the Ravens. The initial impact of the re-signing is bringing back the productive and popular defensive lineman Michael Brockers to the Rams.  Of course, doing so does not come without a negative impact.

The Rams will lose out on a potential fourth-round compensatory pick as a result of Brockers no longer signing with another team. Since the team signed free agent defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson, that will now negate the loss of inside linebacker Cory Littleton.  Right now, the Rams are likely in line for one comp pick in round three, and two picks in round seven.

Of course, the team has yet to sign the contracts they’ve committed to, and there is a new layer to the onion that is the Rams offseason so far. The team has to determine how, and who, they are paying for this year. And those choices will leave the team with additional difficult decisions. But the right decision was bringing back Michael Brockers. Here are three reasons why:

Reason 3 – Defensive line depth better than ever

The LA Rams did not earn a berth in the 2019 NFL Playoffs. While many fans have focused upon the Rams’ offense, perhaps a bigger reason was the Rams’ porous run defense. In a bit of the chicken vs. the egg debate, it’s no coincidence that the Rams division rivals boasted a top-10 rushing offense in 2019.

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Yes, Michael Brockers was a member of that defense. But he and Aaron Donald were the few who actually played the run very well. And Brockers versatility, his ability to slide anywhere along the defensive front, gives the Rams the ability to disguise what the defense is doing on any given play.

If the Rams can honor the agreements with both Brockers and DL A’Shawn Robinson, the team will have a defensive line that could rival that of the one which boasted Ndamukong Suh-Aaron Donald-Michael Brockers.

The Rams have solid rotational pieces in place with Sebastian Joseph-Day and Greg Gaines for the 2020 NFL Season. That’s critical to stay fresh against the run in what may soon be a 17 game season.

Reason 2 – 2020 NFL Draft light in good defensive linemen

The LA Rams know how valuable Michael Brockers is to the defense, even as his statistics do not jump out at fans. Teams are a mini-culture, a microcosm of players who lead or run their own path. Michael Brockers, much like offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth, is that patient sage veteran who helps out the younger players and helps coach marginal performers to improve.

How do I know this? His teammates talk about it all the time.

You can’t draft decency, maturity, statesmanship, leadership. You draft talent in the hopes that the young men added to the team develop into a larger-than-self perspective.  And in the 2020 NFL Draft is loaded with talent at other positions.  Defensive linemen are not in enough numbers to fill the holes in the NFL rosters.

Per The Draft Network, the 2020 NFL Draft includes just four defensive linemen with a first-round grade and two more linemen with a second-round grade. No defensive linemen have a third-round grade. In the 2020 NFL Draft, 255 plays will be selected.  At Draft Network.com’s draft board, the website lists just 22 defensive linemen as draftable in this year’s draft.  In contrast, they have 37 wide receivers among the top 255 players in this draft class.  22 players at defensive line translate into 10 NFL teams simply doing without or reaching for a prospect whose scouting report indicates he could be undrafted.

Reason 1 – Aaron Donald approves. I mean, he REALLY approves this move.

In the grand scheme of things, anything the LA Rams do that pleases All-Pro defensive lineman Aaron Donald is a good thing. After all folks, five-time All-Pro Aaron Donald is just now reaching his NFL prime, and he is an incredibly valuable player.  He had lobbied hard for the Rams to re-sign Brockers before he signed elsewhere.

So when news hit that the Rams had re-signed Brockers after the Ravens declined to do so, Donald’s reaction was pretty positive and immediate.

If the LA Rams are building a championship team, then input from the stars of the team is critical. If the defense axle is Donald, then surrounding him with complementary teammates is one piece to a championship team puzzle. And he clearly wanted the Rams to bring back Michael Brockers.

Fans have access to a small slice of a team’s dynamics. What the team does on the field is limited to the television camera, and where the football is on any given play. As we all observe the game, we speculate on the play call, and judge performances from that presumption.  If Michael Brockers assignment is to hold the right edge, gobble two blockers, and not let anyone run past him, he may fulfill his assignment perfectly, yet generate almost no measurable game statistics. But his teammates will know.

Aaron Donald’s endorsement is enough for me.  Hopefully, the Rams find a way to retain both Robinson and Brockers.  In doing so, the Rams can convert the state of the defensive line from a concern to strength for the 2020 NFL season.