Snead’s Snacks: Which offensive tackles could be the heir to Rob Havenstein?

Heading into the 2025 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Rams could be looking for an offensive tackle. With Rob Havenstein heading into the final year of his deal and his age 33 season, the Rams will need someone that they can trust to be his heir apparent.

While this isn’t a strong tackle class, there are some intriguing day two options that could eventually develop into starters. That’s generally what the Rams will be looking for at the position.

Since the 2020

The focus for the season finale of “Snead’s Snacks” will be offensive tackle.

2025 Snead’s Snacks

Warren McClendon, Georgia – 5th Round

Athletic Measurements
Category	Measurement	Percentile
Height	6’4″	8th percentile
Weight	306 lbs	24th percentile
Arm Length	34.5 inches	68th percentile
Athletic Trait Grades
Grades	Rating
Size Grade	Poor
Player Traits
37 career starts with right tackle-left tackle versatility
Efficient footwork and high football IQ
Excels in zone scheme. Played in mix of zone and gap

Overview of Pick

Warren McClendon hasn’t played a lot, but showed that he can at least be a potential depth piece on the offensive line. With his size, he may play more inside at guard, but can slot in at right tackle if needed.

Bobby Evans, Oklahoma – 3rd Round

Athletic Measurements
Category	Measurement	Percentile
Height	6’4″	14th percentile
Weight	312 lbs	45th percentile
Arm Length	34.75 inches	73rd percentile
Shuttle	4.72 seconds	N/A
3-Cone	8 seconds	N/A
Broad Jump	116 inches	N/A
Vertical Jump	27.5 inches	N/A
40-Yard Dash	5.2 seconds	N/A
Athletic Trait Grades
Grades	Rating
Size Grade	Poor
Speed Grade	Okay
Explosion Grade	Good
Agility Grade	Okay
RAS	5.65 – Okay
Player Traits
Experienced Starter at Multiple Positions (T/G)
Functional Athleticism
Easy Mover

Overview of Pick

At one point there was some thought that Bobby Evans could potentially be the right tackle post-Rob Havenstein. Unfortunately, despite some strong performances as a rookie, Evans struggled. That was especially the case in 2022.

Joe Noteboom, TCU – 3rd Round

Athletic Measurements
Category	Measurement	Percentile
Height	6’5″	42nd percentile
Weight	309 lbs	42nd percentile
Arm Length	34.375 inches	78th percentile
Shuttle	4.44 seconds	95th percentile
3-Cone	7.65 seconds	68th percentile
Broad Jump	102 inches	46th percentile
Vertical Jump	24 inches	9th percentile
40-Yard Dash	4.96 seconds	94th percentile
Athletic Trait Grades
Grades	Rating
Size Grade	Okay
Speed Grade	Elite
Agility Grade	Great
Explosion Grade	Poor
RAS	8.48 – Great
Player Traits
Experienced/Good athlete in space
Good technique/hand usage and strength
Versatility in pass sets

Overview of Pick

Joe Noteboom was a staple on the Rams offensive line since he was drafted. Whether it’s been as a depth piece or as a starter, Noteboom has played in whatever role that’s been asked of him. Injuries have been an issue and he may not have developed into the starting left tackle that the Rams wanted, but he was a good swing tackle until injuries hurt his level.

Rob Havenstein, Wisconsin – 2nd Round

Athletic Measurements
Category	Measurement	Percentile
Height	6’7″	83rd percentile
Weight	321 lbs	71st percentile
Arm Length	33.75 inches	33rd percentile
Shuttle	4.87 seconds	24th percentile
3-Cone	8.28 seconds	7th percentile
Broad Jump	96 inches	15th percentile
Vertical Jump	28.5 inches	54th percentile
40-Yard Dash	5.46 seconds	13th percentile
Athletic Trait Grades
Grades	Rating
Size Grade	Great
Speed Grade	Very Poor
Agility Grade	Very Poor
Explosion Grade	Poor
RAS	2.36 – Poor
Player Traits
Three-year starter
Good feet with quick steps
Zone blocking

Notable Past Rams Undrafted/Signed Players

Alaric Jackson, Iowa – 2021 UDFA

Athletic Measurements
Category	Measurement	Percentile
Height	6’5″	46th percentile
Weight	321 lbs	71st percentile
Arm Length	32.5 inches	5th percentile
Shuttle	4.92 seconds	18th percentile
3-Cone	7.69 seconds	65th percentile
Broad Jump	103 inches	53rd percentile
Vertical Jump	25 inches	16th percentile
40-Yard Dash	5.4 seconds	22nd percentile
Athletic Trait Grades
Grades	Rating
Size Grade	Good
Speed Grade	Poor
Explosion Grade	Poor
Agility Grade	Okay
RAS	3.26 – Poor
Player Traits
42 Career Starts/Versatile T/G
Quickly Moves to Second Level/Effective Hands
Zone Scheme/Leadership

Andrew Whitworth, LSU – 2017 Free Agent

Athletic Measurements
Category	Measurement	Percentile
Height	6’7″	83rd percentile
Weight	334 lbs	90th percentile
Arm Length	34.38 inches	N/A
Shuttle	4.84 seconds	33rd percentile
3-Cone	8.26 seconds	N/A
Broad Jump	112 inches	88th percentile
Vertical Jump	30.5 inches	77th percentile
40-Yard Dash	5.16 seconds	69th percentile
Athletic Trait Grades
Grades	Rating
Size Grade	Great
Speed Grade	Great
Explosion Grade	Elite
Agility Grade	Poor
RAS	9.11 – Elite
Player Traits
Ideal Size
Sets Up Well in Pass Pro
Can Block in Space

Common Traits Rams Look For in Offensive Tackles

Experience and Versatility is a Top Priority

When it comes to offensive linemen, but especially the tackle spot, the Rams seem to value experience. Every player that the Rams have drafted at tackle were experienced college starters. McClendon had 37 starts, Jackson had 42, and Noteboom played in 53 games. Evans played in 41 games.

However, it’s not just experience that the Rams value, but also multi-position versatility. The ability for a player to slot in on either side or inside at guard is valuable. This suggests a clear emphasis on polished, high-floor players with real game experience. A reason for this is likely for McVay’s trust in plug-and-play readiness.

Football IQ and Technique

From a pure trait perspective, the Rams like smart, fundamental players. Many were said to have good technique and efficient footwork as well as high football IQ. This would suggest a shared emphasis on technical proficiency. It’s also worth noting that the Rams seem to value players who can move well in space. Additionally, all players listed had 32.5-inch arms or longer, with most at or above the 34-inch mark—a likely threshold for tackle eligibility

Senior Bowl a Plus

This is somewhat of a result of drafting experienced players who are likely seniors. However, the Rams tend to value players who have gone to Mobile. The only player on this list that did not participate in the Senior Bowl was Bobby Evans. It’s also worth noting here that most players have come from Power-4 conferences.

Scheme Fit

Most players listed here either excelled in zone or had the ability to block in space which notes upside in zone concepts. With that said, McClendon was noted as having zone and gap experience which also reflects the Rams evolving hybrid run scheme under Sean McVay. Last season, the Rams were close to an even split between gap and zone runs. We may be looking for players that have good zone and gap blocking experience which indicates adaptability to modern NFL offenses.

2025 Players Who Fit The Rams

1. Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota

There’s a lot to like when it comes to Minnesota’s Aireontae Ersery. He’s an experienced player with 39 career starts — 38 of which came at left tackle. The one start at right tackle came back in 2020. While you would like to see more starts on the right side, he’s at least shown the ability to do it. Ersery is a proficient zone blocker and primarily played in zone at Minnesota. The Golden Gophers have run zone at approximately a 65-35 split the last two years. Ersery displays good footwork and competitive toughness.

Courtesy Kent Lee Platte (@mathbomb) | RAS.Football

Draft Projection: 2nd Round

2. Ozzy Trapilo, Boston College

Ozzy Trapilo has consistently been one of my favorite Rams fits at tackle in this class. Going back to the Senior Bowl, Brandon Thorn of the Trench Warfare Substack told me that his comp for Trapilo was Rob Havenstein. Well, here we are with the Rams needing an heir to Havenstein. Trapilo stands at 6’8 with 33-inch arms and has 36 career starts with 34 coming at right tackle. While more experience on the left side would be nice, he did have two starts inside at guard. Trapilo was a participant at the Senior Bowl and played in a multiple run scheme at Boston College.

Courtesy Kent Lee Platte (@mathbomb) | RAS Football

Draft Projection: 3rd Round

3. Caleb Rogers, Texas Tech

If the Rams want experience, Caleb Rogers certainly has it. Rogers has 55 career starts with 36 at right tackle and 16 at left tackle. He’s also shown the ability to play inside. Rogers has shown the ability to move in space, displaying good lateral quickness as he played in a zone-based run scheme with gap principles. The Texas Tech offensive tackle was also a Senior Bowl participant.

Courtesy Kent Lee Platte (@mathbomb) | RAS Football

Draft Projection: 4th Round

4. Jalen Travis, Iowa State

While Jalen Travis doesn’t have the amount of starts that the Rams typically look for, he is a three-year starter with 27 starts between left and right tackle. Travis has double-digit starts at both positions. There has been a lot of discussion about the Iowa State wide receivers as a fit for the Rams, but Travis is a decent fit as well. He may not be polished, but he has the traits that make for a strong tackle in the NFL. Travis has good initial quickness and is light on his feet. He should excel in zone concepts, but Iowa State was gap-heavy last season.

Courtesy Kent Lee Platte (@mathbomb) | RAS Football

Draft Projection: 4th-5th Round

5. Jack Nelson, Wisconsin

Out of all the tackles in this class, Nelson may be the best fit for what the Rams want behind Havenstein. The Rams have gone to the Wisconsin pipeline before and Nelson not only tries to model parts of his game after Andrew Whitworth, but he has a past connection with Rob Havenstein. Havenstein helped Nelson with his pass sets during a spring practice last year. Nelson has 50 career starts with 37 of them coming at left tackle. However, he does have 13 starts at left guard. Nelson is a fundamental player with efficient footwork and played in a zone-based run scheme with gap principles.

Courtesy Kent Lee Platte (@mathbomb) | RAS Football

Draft Projection: 5th Round

Honorable Mentions

Joshua Simmons, Ohio State

• 31 career starts (18 at LT, 13 at RT)
• Impressive spatial awareness
• Offensive centered around zone concepts

Draft Projection: 1st Round

Marcus Mbow, Purdue

• 32 career starts (18 at RT, 14 at RG)
• Wins on outside zone concepts/fluid mover
• Senior Bowl

Draft Projection: 3rd Round

Joshua Gray, Oregon State

• 56 career starts (44 at LT, 12 at LG)
• Good processing ability/Instinctive athlete
• Lateral quickness