LA Rams: 8 players who could be gone after the 2021 NFL season

Interior offensive lineman

The LA Rams do not invest much into the offensive line either, and that means that the Rams will have a lot of internal discussion and debate over how to handle the expiration of interior offensive lineman Austin Corbett’s contract. Just for a brief recap, the Rams traded a fifth-round pick to the Cleveland Browns for Corbett. In 2019, he started at the left guard position. In 2020, he started at the right guard position and he improved. In 2021, the Rams plan to start him at the offensive center position.

His value to the Rams has been skyrocketing. He is a plug-and-play savant to three starting positions for the Rams interior offensive line. That level of versatility and flexibility, to start at any of the three interior line positions is immensely valuable. So valuable, in fact, that I cannot see a way for the Rams to afford to keep him on the roster. At least, not with the current philosophy of spending so little on the offensive line.

Once more, Austin Corbett is another Rams veteran who will likely be testing his value in the 2022 NFL Free Agency market. What is the market value of a veteran who can start all three interior offensive line positions? More than the LA Rams can afford at first blush, I fear.  While Corbett is an ideal player to retain, any move to keep him on the roster reduces the chances for the Rams to retain an offensive lineman who can take over at left tackle in 2022

Quite the conundrum.

Over the past few seasons, it seemed as though the addition of Tremayne Ancrum, Jordan Meredith, and even AJ Jackson has set up a safety net of sorts for the offensive line if the team loses out on bringing back Corbett. Even a return of Coleman Shelton next year would be far more affordable, and therefore much more likely.