The Los Angeles Rams were able to address a number of their notable voids on the roster through the 2020 NFL Draft.
Many assumed the offensive line would be a point of emphasis for Los Angeles heading into the 2020 NFL season. Of their nine picks, only the final one was relegated to adding another potential piece to the offensive line after taking Clemson guard Tremayne Anchrum in the seventh round.
This may have come as a surprise to many considering all the struggles they endured up front during the 2019 campaign. However, it seems head coach Sean McVay is confident that the pieces are already in place.
McVay feels one of the few silver linings that came from the injury-plagued offensive line was that it gave the coaching staff a chance to better evaluate the depth they had, via J.B. Long of the team’s official website:
Last year was beneficial for us, in spite of having some of the injuries and shuffling things around,” Sean McVay said. “You got a chance to really evaluate a lot of guys playing in real games that count and you can see that there’s a lot of upside.”
McVay pointed out their in-season acquisition of guard Austin Corbett as an example of a player that could be poised for a big offseason under offensive line coach Aaron Kromer:
“You look at Austin,” McVay says of the 33rd overall selection from two years ago. “You say, alright, what does it look like if you give him an opportunity to have a training camp and some guidance under Coach Kromer’s tutelage.”
Corbett had been a second-round pick by the Cleveland Browns in the 2018 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, he struggled to find his footing in Cleveland and they ultimately jumped at the chance to part ways with him in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. McVay’s comments indicate that he is optimistic Corbett can emerge into a bonafide starter with a full offseason in the system under his belt.
Aside from Corbett, Austin Blythe was also able to take advantage of his opportunity by making the transition from right guard to center and this spurred the Rams to re-sign him to a one-year deal this offseason. Right guard David Edwards also made the switch from the left side of the line to potentially etch out a starting role for himself heading into the 2020 NFL season.
Although it remains to be seen how the rest of the pieces will fall in place, it is clear that McVay is confident that there is more than enough talent in this group to spark a potential resurgence.
