The Los Angeles Rams are starting their offseason work earlier than expected, having missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016. The coaching staff will be evaluated, as will the roster and upcoming free agents.
There will be holes opened up across the depth chart, including a few at some very important positions. The core is still intact at quarterback, running back and cornerback, while Aaron Donald’s presence at defensive tackle is always reassuring for the defensive line.
These six positions will most likely need some attention this offseason, depending on how free agency shakes out. They’re the Rams’ six biggest roster needs in 2020.
Left tackle
This is the big one. Andrew Whitworth is 38 and set to hit free agency. He’s expressed a desire to play another season in 2020, but it’s unclear if the Rams will bring him back or move on to a cheaper, younger option. Joseph Noteboom is a candidate to take over for Whitworth, but he played guard this season and has a lot of improving to do before he’s ready for a full-time starting job at left tackle.
Bobby Evans and David Edwards should also be in the mix if Whitworth leaves, considering both played tackle in college and were cross-trained by Aaron Kromer at every position but center last year.
Center
Brian Allen missed a good chunk of the season due to injury, but even when healthy, he wasn’t exactly an above-average center. In fact, he was the Rams’ weakest link up front. The offensive line improved when Austin Blythe slid over from guard to center, but Blythe will be a free agent in March, himself.
The Rams could re-sign Blythe and play him at center with Allen backing him up, or they could give Allen another shot in 2020. The draft and free agency are always options, of course, but the ideal scenario would be finding a starter from within. There just isn’t much certainty with Allen or Blythe heading into next season.
Left guard
Assuming Whitworth leaves and Noteboom moves to left tackle, there will be a vacancy at left guard. Fortunately, the Rams have a few possible candidates to slide in and start. Austin Corbett was sufficient down the stretch this season, while Edwards and Blythe can both play guard, too.
It’s possible Edwards, Evans or an outside player could replace Whitworth at left tackle, which would let Noteboom stay at left guard. That’s not to say they shouldn’t bring in some competition for him, though, given the struggles he experienced in his first year as a starter.
Outside linebacker
Dante Fowler Jr. is a free agent, Clay Matthews isn’t getting any younger and neither Samson Ebukam nor Ogbonnia Okoronkwo look like above-average starters at this point. If the Rams sign Cory Littleton, Fowler can be considered gone. That would leave Ebukam or Okoronkwo to replace him opposite Matthews.
That’s not exactly a combination that instills much confidence in the fan base or coaching staff. Expect the Rams to draft at least one edge rusher and sign one in free agency, too. They just won’t be able to break the bank for one, given their cap situation.
Defensive end
Michael Brockers’ contract expires this offseason and Morgan Fox has never been a full-time starter in the NFL. He’s the only legitimate in-house replacement for Brockers, should he leave in free agency, which means the Rams have some work to do at this position.
They can probably find a defensive who offers more as a pass rusher than Brockers, but replacing his play against the run will be difficult. While Brockers wants to stay with the Rams, paying him what he wants may not be possible.
Inside linebacker
Even if Cory Littleton stays with the Rams, Los Angeles needs to address the inside linebacker position. Troy Reeder is not an NFL starter, Bryce Hager was benched early in the season and Travin Howard only played 102 snaps in 2019. The Rams like to play an extra safety instead of a second inside linebacker, but that doesn’t always hold up against run-heavy teams.
The wild card in all of this is Micah Kiser, who was lost for the year due to a preseason injury. If he can live up to the hype and become that run-stuffing linebacker the Rams hoped he’d be in 2019, it will solve a lot of their problems – if Littleton also returns. But if Littleton leaves, this position jumps way up the list of offseason needs.
