LA Rams News: Team faces boom or bust in 2021 NFL Draft

Offensive tackle

While the Rams certainly have carried a robust depth of defensive linemen in the past, the Rams have lost Michael Brockers, Morgan Fox, and are projected to lose veteran nose tackle Sebastian Joseph Day when his contract expires in 2022. The Rams will not have a great deal of cap space then, either, and that could translate into the loss of another veteran star to the big payday lure of another team.

The LA Rams situation at offensive tackle could be very good this year, or very bad this year. But one thing we do know, it will be much thinner and weaker in 2022.  We know that the team cannot realistically expect offensive left tackle Andrew Whitworth to play until he signs up for Social Security. The hope of getting one more solid year out of Big Whit should be the limit.

OT is a large 2022 question mark

But that is when the problems kick in. You see, backup left tackle Joseph Noteboom faces the end of his contract in 2022. While some do not view his performance very highly, he certainly did well enough in eight 2020 starts at the left tackle position to be in the conversation as the successor.  With his loss, the Rams will certainly need to have a plan, if not player(s), in place this year to prepare for the 2020 NFL season.

Right now, the Rams project to lose both Chandler Brewer (ERFA) and Joseph Noteboom. Fortunately, Brewer can be re-signed with a minimal Tender offer. And the Rams will have the third season of offensive tackle Tremayne Anchrum. But any development for the 2022 season will need to happen rather quickly. The Rams will need to have that resolved because, for the third year in a row, the Rams will likely not have sufficient cap space to be huge buyers in the NFL free agency market.