LA Rams front office turns nose up to fans over OL injuries

Look for LA Rams to stick to the plan

The LA Rams have been in this situation before, and they stuck to their master plan when it comes to the offensive line. How did that turn out? Well, the Rams’ offensive line was hammered by injuries in 2019, so much so that the Rams’ front office made moves in mid-season to restock the roster.  What did they do then?

The Rams signed IOL Coleman Shelton off the Arizona Cardinals practice squad and traded for a backup interior offensive lineman, Austin Corbett, from the Cleveland Browns. The Rams’ offensive line to start the season that year was Andrew Whitworth, Joe Noteboom, Brian Allen, Austin Blythe, and Rob Havenstein. The Rams ended up playing 11 different offensive linemen that season and ended the year with Andrew Whitworth, David Edwards, Austin Blythe, Austin Corbett, and Bobby Evans.

All’s well that ends well

The following season, the Rams had everyone return, and with the exception of a few minor injuries, the next two seasons found the Rams’ offensive line healthy, durable, and among the top performers in the NFL.

At the time, the Rams did not trade for a star offensive lineman. In fact, in the 2020 NFL Draft and the 2021 NFL Draft, the LA Rams drafted just one offensive lineman, Tremayne Anchrum, with the 250th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.  And yet, that strategy worked. The Rams advanced to the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs at the end of the 2020 NFL season and won Super Bowl LVI at the end of the 2021 NFL season.

Historically, the LA Rams trade for elite game-changers who play at defensive back, quarterback, or outside linebacker. The Rams did trade for a running back in 2021, but that seemed more out of desperation after so many players’ seasons ended prematurely due to injury.

If you believe that the LA Rams truly need to trade for a top-notch offensive lineman, then ask yourself these two questions:

(1) – Who is truly worth trading for who would make a significant improvement to the LA Rams over the fact that starting offensive linemen are returning?
(2) – When did the LA Rams trade for a top-notch offensive lineman in the past?

I don’t think that the Rams front office means anything by it, but the professionals who act to improve the team are unlikely to change course to placate fans’ demands. In short, despite the demands of LA Rams fans to trade for a top offensive lineman, look for the LA Rams front office to turn its nose up to fans over OL injuries. And to be honest, I am okay with that.

After all, when it comes to the LA Rams roster work, this team has been one of the best teams in the NFL.