The NFL Star Is Fully challenge’ without…..
Defensive tackle Aaron Donald was not only the Rams’ best player during his 10-year NFL career but arguably the best player in the league during that span.
The three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year officially retired this offseason, leaving Los Angeles with some big questions on defense. The team will never fully fill Donald’s shoes, but veteran linebacker Ernest Jones is certainly looking forward to trying.
“I’m excited for the challenge,” Jones told reporters via FOX Sports’ Eric Williams. “Defensively, we’re excited about the challenge without AD.”
Donald finished his career with 542 tackles, 111 sacks, 24 forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries. That’s a lot of production for Jones and the rest of the Rams’ defense to make up for.
Jones, a third-round pick in 2021, is coming off arguably his best season in the league with a career-high 145 tackles and 4.5 sacks.
“From the moment I got here, this was a goal of mine to be this leader of this defense,” Jones added. “Kinda took that towards last year, but with him being gone now, there’s a lot more eyes on me, which I can sure handle. Got a great group of guys that I’m looking forward to lead.”
Los Angeles’ defense feels like an up-and-coming group with the free-agent additions of cornerback Tre’Davious White and safety Kamren Curl as well as 2023 third-round picks Byron Young and Kobie Turner, who are returning after impressive rookie campaigns.
The Rams also have a good chance to add to the defense with their first first-round pick since 2016.
Although the task of replacing Donald will be difficult, Jones believes it’s time for the rest of the defense to earn the respect they deserve.
“We get to go out there and now it’s time for those guys to make a name for themselves, so it’s just going to be a great task,” said Jones.
ESPN’s Matt Miller thinks that now is the best time for the Los Angeles Rams to draft an offensive lineman to join a group that has gotten a lot better in the last year already.
“I think they found a steal in Alaric Jackson, he’s been a solid left tackle for them. But Rob Havenstein turns 32 after the draft. Let’s start thinking long-term about building up this offensive line instead of this band-aid unit that they’ve had under Sean McVay. I’m looking at Amarius Mims and Tyler Guyton, they could potentially play left tackle if they needed to, learn under Havenstein for a year. This could be a really good offensive line, you want to keep that continuity going. Now’s the time when you have the quarterback and the wide receivers to get an offensive lineman to elevate the top-five starters that you have out there.”
In draft articles about Mims in the past, I’ve seen pushback in the comments on picking a player who may not be ready right away as Miller is suggesting. Mims didn’t start many games at Georgia but I’ve seen several analysts say that despite his inexperience that his technique and effectiveness were closer to pro ready than others have argued. One such example was this video of veteran analyst Greg Cosell noting that Amarius Mims could be the best offensive tackle in the draft if not for his injury history, in this interview with Inside the Birds:
If the Rams picked Mims, Guyton, or any offensive lineman, Miller is right that McVay not have a place for him to play this season unless there’s an injury or the team parts with Rob Havenstein. Since that is unlikely, the only way for the rookie to play would be to beat A.J. Jackson in a competition at left tackle and there would be a competition. It wouldn’t be handed to the rookie just because he’s a first round pick and Jackson has a significant advantage going into training camp, especially if the rookie doesn’t have a lot of experience like Mims.
Offensive tackle is also not lacking backups as Joe Noteboom, Warren McClendon (a fifth round pick in 2023), and A.J. Arcuri (seventh round, 2022) give L.A. at least above-average depth at the position. Not to suggest that the Rams couldn’t or shouldn’t target a tackle in the first three rounds.
By drafting a player like Mims, Guyton, J.C. Latham, or pick some other tackle, the Rams do attempt to solve several issues at once:
Rob Havenstein might need a replacement between 2024-2025
We have seen what right tackles (and Rams guards) get paid recently, it’s not like a team can just go find a right tackle tomorrow and be fine. Look at the Dolphins: Every time they address a need on the offensive line, something goes wrong.
The Patriots re-signed Mike Onwenu to a $19 million per season contract, and like most important offensive lineman his team didn’t let him leave.
If Havenstein retires or shows signs of decline in the next year, there’s no immediate answer. The best way to address it would be in the draft but if the Rams do it now instead of waiting then they have an entire year to coach the new player or to realize that he’s a bust and look again in 2025. It’s really the safest move to address Havenstein’s potential exit in a year, if that’s even something that they’re expecting.
A.J. Jackson isn’t irreplaceable
At worst, L.A. would have a fallback plan if Jackson was struggling or got injured. At best, the rookie blows everyone away in camp and Jackson is a key reserve or traded.
The Rams need to save money on the offensive line
The team now has two guards making $17 million per season, the best thing the Rams can do is attempt to get cheaper at tackle while Steve Avila is also on his rookie contract.
If the tackle can play guard, it wouldn’t hurt
In addition to Noteboom, who hasn’t been a very good guard in the past, the Rams have Logan Bruss, Zach Thomas, and Grant Miller backing up their two big investments. That is not very good depth. If the Rams pick someone like Graham Barton out of Duke, they would be getting a player who is thought to be a five-position offensive lineman. Therefore, even if Barton is starting at left tackle, if there’s an injury to Kevin Dotson or Jonah Jackson, Barton could slide inside and Jackson could replace him at tackle.
