This plain-as-day depth-chart move could change everything for the Rams

The Los Angeles Rams entered the 2025 NFL season knowing that three seasoned veterans were in the last year of their current contracts. They are tight end Tyler Higbee, right tackle Rob Havenstein, and quarterback Matthew Stafford. Both Higbee and Havenstein have had durability issues of late. Stafford has been on a year-to-year basis because the team and player want to allow flexibility to part ways amicably.

But the team's interest in extending veteran right tackle Rob Havenstein may be waning. Since 2022, the veteran offensive tackle has been fighting a losing battle with durability. He played 14 games in 2023, 11 games in 2024, and just four of seven games so far in 2025.

Thankfully, the team has slid swing-tackle Warren McClendon Jr. into the starting right tackle role, and he has performed admirably. While that is fantastic, it does come with a dilemma. What should the team decide about the position when Havenstein returns to health?

Warren McClendon or Rob Havenstein to start after Week 8 BYE

While there is something to be said about respecting a veteran, It's impossible to justify tweaking an offensive line that is coming into its stride. The offensive line had struggled to find a firm footing earlier in the season, and Rob Havenstein was the starting right tackle at the time.

Since McClendon has taken over in Week 5, the offensive line and offense have been much better. Stafford has been sacked only three times over the past three games. He has averaged three touchdown passes and over 250 passing yards per game. How much of that is directly related to McClendon starting at right tackle?

Does it matter? It's working. And in the NFL, if it's not broken, conventional wisdom is not to change it. Not only is Stafford cooking this season, but the team is generating success unseen since 2021. At 5-2 at the Week 8 BYE, Los Angeles is perfectly positioned to claim a playoff berth once more. Better still, this team has enough firepower and depth to make a deep run in postseason competition.

Who will start going forward? Who do you thing should start? As always, thanks for reading.