St. Louis Rams: Making the case for Evan Mathis

By Luis Tirado Jr. | Mar 13, 2015

As reported by Marc Sessler of NFL.com, the Philadelphia Eagles are in the process of trading offensive guard Evan Mathis. Since the St. Louis Rams pulled off a blockbuster trade just a few days ago to do a quarterback swap with the Eagles involving Sam Bradford and Nick Foles, I’m sure some kind of deal could be worked out for Mathis. He’s exactly what they need to bolster their offensive line and wouldn’t cost all that much to acquire.

Since he’s only making about $5.5 million dollars this year and $6 million dollars in 2016, the Rams could secure him without exactly breaking the bank or giving up too much. It’s no secret they need help on their offensive line as Mathis would be a nice addition while also knowing how Foles works as a quarterback.

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Even though injuries of the past might question some for this move, I’m confident he could still get the job done at a high quality of execution. He ended last season on a solid note and should be able to pick up exactly where he left off should the Rams acquire him.

With eleven years experience playing in the NFL, Mathis would instantly bring some much-needed talent to their offensive line while also giving Foles another piece he’ll need to thrive. Make no mistake about it, football games are won thanks to the battle of the trenches as the best teams in the NFL all can brag about the power of their offensive line.

While I think that his age might make some believe he’s not worth pursuing at 33 years old entering next season, since the Rams are about to unleash Foles to the NFC West, they could easily get some good production out of Mathis over the next few years.

Should the Rams lose key members of their offensive line in Davin Joseph and Joe Barksdale to free agency, it’s imperative they have a backup plan. Most most drafts also have the Rams taking an offensive lineman with their 10th overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.

Even when I did my own mock draft a few days ago, I also projected the Rams taking a top offensive line prospect in Andrus Peat. It won’t matter who is throwing the football or is their premiere running back as without a solid offensive line it won’t be as successful as they envision.

Nov 27, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Philadelphia Eagles guard Evan Mathis (69) on the sidelines during the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Philadelphia beat Dallas 33-10. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

If the Rams go the route of drafting a top offensive lineman in the draft, it’s important to have Mathis on board to help mold him and everyone around him to improve. As a two-time Pro Bowler and considered one of the best playing at his position, trading for Mathis would be another solid move by the Rams.

Another big reason why they should do their best to trade for Mathis is because if offensive guard Greg Robinson has a decline in play considering he’s coming back from toe surgery, Mathis could be there to take over. He would be able to step right in and execute any blocking or protection assignment with precision.

Overall, Mathis presents a solid option for the Rams considering how head coach Chip Kelly and his Eagles are making quite the strides in free agency. It has yet to be seen if all these trades and free agency moves will be worth it, but since he’s trying to trade Mathis quickly, the Rams could easily land him for not much whether it be draft picks or some low-key players. He would be a solid pickup and then some considering all that he brings to the table.

Next: Did the St. Louis Rams swindle the Philadelphia Eagles?

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