2020 Rams projected starting offense and defense

ProFootballFocus posted a starting offense and defense for all 32 teams on Tuesday morning. There are some upcoming training camp battles ahead for the LA Rams, including at running back, “WR3”, four of the five starting positions on the offensive line, edge, inside linebacker, and slot cornerback.

What conclusions did PFF reach?

Offense

QB: Jared Goff

RB: Cam Akers

WR: Robert Woods

WR: Josh Reynolds

Slot: Cooper Kupp

TE: Tyler Higbee

LT: Andrew Whitworth

LG: Austin Corbett

C: Austin Blythe

RG: David Edwards

RT: Rob Havenstein

Notes:

Havenstein seem a solid bet at right tackle. PFF chose Corbett and Edwards for the two guard positions and Blythe beating out Brian Allen:

Allen was the starter at center to start the 2019 season before going down with injury, and he struggled mightily in pass protection, earning a pass-blocking grade of just 45.4. After Allen went down, Austin Blythe slid over from right guard to center, but things weren’t much better for him (58.2 overall grade at center). I put Blythe in the projected starting lineup, but the Rams could very well decide to go back to their 2019 starter in Allen should he win the job this offseason.

Defense

DI: Aaron Donald

DI: A’Shawn Robinson

DI: Michael Brockers

EDGE: Leonard Floyd

EDGE: Samson Ebukam

LB: Micah Kiser

CB: Jalen Ramsey

CB: Troy Hill

S/CB: Terrell Burgess

S: Taylor Rapp

S: John Johnson

Notes:

PFF lists Burgess as a starting corner rather than choosing another linebacker or choosing a different cornerback/safety. They clearly expect the team to work with a fifth secondary member of another player in the front seven. Here’s what they had to say about the edge:

The Rams replaced Dante Fowler Jr. with Leonard Floyd in free agency in what figures to be a downgrade from a pass-rushing standpoint, and their move to counteract the lost snaps from Clay Matthews was to select Lewis in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Lewis has some definite upside down the line, but this is still a guy who will likely take time to develop at the NFL level after playing over 150 defensive snaps for the first and only time in his collegiate career last season. The battle will likely come down to Ebukam and Okoronkwo to start, and Ebukam’s experience in recent seasons (1,717 defensive snaps since 2017) should give him the edge.

How would you feel about these “top 22” players?