Rams Take Isaiah Battle in Supplemental Draft
Nov 22, 2014; Clemson, SC, USA; Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney prior to the game against the Georgia State Panthers at Clemson Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports
The Los Angeles… Imean the St. Louis Rams don’t quite know what they have yet in left tackle Greg Robinson. So they wish to leave no stone unturned when it comes to finding themselves a left tackle. And Isaiah Battle is a very talented left tackle prospect that had to come out a little early and enter the supplemental draft.
That left the Rams more than willing to give up their fifth-round pick in 2016 to get Battle now. General manager Les Snead said Thursday that Battle will basically get a redshirt season in 2015. As Robinson gets his year three to get it together or else at left tackle in 2015, the Rams are happy with their situation.
Snead told NFL.com, “We felt it was an opportunity to get an earlier round value for a later round price,” Snead said in a release from the team. “He’s going to practice what would’ve been his final year of college eligibility with us, go through our offseason program, and then start his rookie season a year from now.
“This will allow us to bring him along gradually both on and off the field. Now it’s up to Isaiah and us to go work to reach his potential as a person and player.”
That potential he has is for greatness as he has everything you want physically from a left tackle. It’s from the neck up where the Rams should have concerns so a redshirt year isnt’ a bad place to start for Battle. The Rams really need to get that offensive line together has potential superstar Todd Gurley will be at running back and Nick Foles will be at quarterback.
Foles can be solid but without a solid left tackle and remainder of offensive line that has been addressed, he’ll go out the same way Sam Bradford did. And Gurley, who already tore his ACL last year, doesn’t need his comeback year to be behind a shaky offensive line. If Robinson kills it this year the Rams can either kick right tackle Robert Havenstein inside or use Battle as a trade asset.