Don't count out the guys behind Whitworth who have been under the tutelage of Kromer this year and into next. Honestly the thought of drafting a kid to groom as our future LT isn't something I care to see - i prefer we nab some 25 year old cut from another team or in Free agency that can be coached up - like what they tried to do with the center from Buffalo Center of the future is the more pressing position on the oline to me
I am with you that it would be foolish to count out the groomed interior OL reserves that Kromer has been working with this entire season. But I do not have any faith in the two reserve OT's as being legit future starting LT for the Rams.
I also agree on your comments of utilizing our top selection for the LT is uncomfortable. Most members sit here today think Whitworth will play out his contract & be here through 2019, but I believe that to be
highly doubtful.
Now that would be a serious blow to this offense & Goff. Current reserve OT's
Darrell Williams &
Cornelius Lucas are pure back up @ best from what I have seen thus far. Plus both are involved in free agency in less than 2 months & will need new contracts.
Fact is it takes many seasons to develop average playing OL'ers. LT takes longer.
The
center position may be in better condition that we think if
John Sullivan decides to make more $$$ & play elsewhere. Kromer has been working with
Austin Blythe (who was signed immediately after he was released by the Colts) since May 2017. I have learned to really like
Iowa OL products. Austin will be 26 yrs old & will enter his 3rd season in 2018. He has 24 NFL games under his belt has starts @ RT,LG & OC but he is an interior OL due to his size.
Besides Blythe Kromer has been developing several other WWC's.
Aaron Nearly is 25 yrs old & has been on several teams like the Eagles & Broncos. He is a former teammate of Cooper Kupp @ Eastern Washington & was the starting OG with 46 starts. When Nearly was released from Kromer signed him on 9/3/2017. He was signed to the Practice Squad till he was signed to the master roster on 12/2717 & started @ center for us that Sunday. He is 6-4 302 lbs.
Another interior OL that has been hanging around for a while is
Jake Eldrenkamp. A 6-5 302 interior type athletic OL'er.Kromer brought him in back on 5/2/17 from Washington Huskies. He was a OT but appears to be an athletic zone-scheme fit at guard or center for the Rams. Signed to the PS on 9/3/17 & has remained there ever since.
Bottom Line here is Blythe is contracted till 2020 & Nearly is contracted till 2019 so there's a very good chance both interior OL'ers will be here in 2018 begins. I would expect the same for Eldrenkamp.