Before Andrew Whitworth decided to return for another season in 2020, left tackle was viewed as one of the Rams’ biggest positional needs in free agency and the draft. But the team was able to re-sign Whitworth to a three-year deal, keeping him around for at least one more season.
That’s good news for the Rams, who didn’t have a clear plan to replace Whitworth had he retired this offseason. Joseph Noteboom was supposed to be the heir to the throne at left tackle, but he looked overmatched as a starter at left guard in 2019 before suffering a season-ending knee injury.
The Rams have been afforded the benefit of time when it comes to finding Whitworth’s replacement, but that doesn’t mean it’ll be easy. This week, general manager Les Snead discussed the team’s plan for life after Whitworth retires, which could involve Noteboom, Bobby Evans or a draft pick taking over eventually.
“I think the process started with the drafting of Joe Noteboom. It did get disrupted with the ACL, so I do think that probably disrupted (the plan), which happens in football. Not every well-designed plan is not going to go your way,” Snead said. “But also, for some reason, Whit continues to not want to retire, so that’s definitely a bonus. But I think what you then begin doing is OK, internally, who are the prospects? Is it Joe Noteboom? Is it Bobby Evans, who played left and right at Oklahoma? Is it someone in this draft? And if it’s someone in this draft, and we onboarded him during the draft, what are they doing in the ‘20 season? Are they competing at one of the spots? Are they training at left tackle only to be the swing tackle?”
The Rams covet versatile offensive linemen who can play multiple positions, which Snead says is an ideal scenario when it comes to replacing Whitworth. Of course, that doesn’t always work out, which will lead the Rams to continue scouring the draft to find a potential replacement at left tackle in 2021 or beyond.
“All of those questions are yet to be determined, but the plan was set when we did draft Joe,” Snead continued. “I think big picture, we would always ideally like to take a tackle and train that player at guard to not only give him versatility, but also an element of slightly more athleticism inside. But that doesn’t always necessarily work, so that’s what we’ve been trying to do and we’ll continue to do that.”
The top offensive tackles will obviously be out of reach for the Rams in this year’s draft, considering they don’t have a pick until No. 52 overall. However, there are options to be had in the second and third rounds, primarily developmental prospects who will need a year or two to develop.
That’s fine for Los Angeles because Whitworth will maintain his post at left tackle for at least one more year, giving whichever rookie – if the Rams draft one – ample time to sit back and learn from the two-time All-Pro.
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