Wisconsin offensive tackle Rob Havenstein struggled in Indianapolis at the combine, but the St. Louis Rams were able to look past those poor measurables and grab him with the No. 57 overall pick of the 2015 NFL Draft.
2015 NFL Draft results: Rob Havenstein drafted by Rams
St. Louis upgrades its O-line.
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
The Rams, who traded down from the No. 41 pick with the Carolina Panthers, added a lineman who’s used to paving the way for big-time running backs. But he won’t be blocking for Melvin Gordon anymore -- instead, it’ll be for Todd Gurley, the Rams’ first-round pick this year.
Despite his 6’7, 321-pound frame, Havenstein ranked dead last in bench press reps among O-lineman in Indy and came close to the bottom in the 40-yard dash. But he was never the kind of player that was going to test well in drills.
The Rams opted to instead focus on Havenstein's impressive week at the Senior Bowl (where he was considered by some scouts to be the group's top offensive tackle) and his All-Big Ten career in Madison.
Havenstein took over the Badgers' right tackle job as a sophomore and didn't miss a single start over the next three years, paving the way for star runners Montee Ball and Melvin Gordon.
Don’t let his awkward body shape fool you, Havenstein has surprisingly quick feet and is athletic for his size. He’ll need to put in work in the weight room, but he’s proven his ability as a versatile blocker.
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