The Los Angeles Rams may not need a center after signing Coleman Shelton in free agency. However, that doesn’t mean they won’t draft a player with some experience on the interior. After not bringing back Joseph Noteboom, the Rams could use a guard with some tackle experience or a tackle that projects as a guard. This is an offensive line group that needs a sixth man.
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While the interior offensive line class isn’t great, there are some intriguing names. Again, the Rams probably won’t draft a center with Shelton and Beaux Limmer on the roster. They also have Dylan McMahon. However, they do need some guard depth and having a player that can slot into multiple spots is a huge bonus.
Coming into the offseason, the Los Angeles Rams looked like a team that was set to take a wide receiver early. While that could still be the case, the signing of Davante Adams and re-signing Tutu Atwell have given the Rams some flexibility at the position.
However, it is worth noting that Adams’ contract is essentially a one-year deal while Atwell’s contract is just a one-year deal. The Rams may not have a glaring need at wide receiver now, but they will in a year’s time. Taking a wide receiver within the first three rounds is still very possible. The good news is, they will have plenty of options, especially on day two where a lot of the value is at the position.
Heading into the draft process, one of my goals was to try to match my evaluation process relatively close with how the Rams operate. Obviously, it will never be exact without actually being in the room. At the same time, based on the information that is public and matching player traits with what they’ve drafted in the past, it is possible to get a picture of the type of player the Rams draft and what that process looks like.
One of the big changes that I’ve made this year is placing players into “buckets”. The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue called “Finding Rams” which outlined this bucketing process. Said Rodrigue,
“On his screen, which the scouts cannot see, Snead manipulates what he calls “the call sheet” as they discuss prospects. The sheet looks like a series of rectangles that split players by position into different buckets. There are no round-by-round grades, only four overall tiers into which players are then “bucketed.” By mid-April, all draft-eligible players are split into nine buckets based on the Rams’ finished evaluations, which include the medical and character checks completed in March and, for some, notes from Sugarman’s visits. The buckets aren’t always “rankings” — some are lateral to others.”
Those buckets are broken up into nine different categories which are:
- Bucket 1: Math Changer, Total Package
- Bucket 2: Reliable Starter
- Bucket 3: Math Changing Starter, Range of Caution Flags
- Bucket 4: Impactful Contributor, Clean Profile
- Bucket 5: Talented Enough to Contribute, Less Predictable
- Bucket 6: Trustworthy, but Less Talented
- Bucket 7: Late IQ or PQ
- Bucket 8: Major Concerns, Off Board, or Reconsider After Draft
- Bucket 9: Likely Drafted, Not a Rams Fit
These buckets aren’t rankings or necessarily even tiers. It’s simply a way for scouts to easily visualize the role that they see for a player at the next level and a way to define their fit on the roster. Players can be placed into multiple buckets as no single prospect is just one thing. As Rodrigue noted, in Puka Nacua’s case, he would have been a three, five, and seven.
Eventually, I’ll have fit grades and a full Rams big board
I’ll be doing this with every position group outside of quarterback. Today, we’re looking at the offensive line.
Previous Position Groups
- Which Linebackers Should the Rams target in the NFL Draft?
- How Early Should the Rams Draft a Tight End?
- Which Running Back Should Rams Pair With Kyren Williams?
- Should the Rams be Looking at Safeties in the NFL Draft?
- When Should Rams Consider Drafting Offensive Tackle?
- Cornerback remains a top need for Rams
- Do Rams need to draft a wide receiver?
Bucket 1: Math Changer, Total Package
- Grey Zabel, North Dakota State
- Eli Cox, Kentucky
It seems as if during every draft process there is an offensive lineman from North Dakota State that impresses during the draft process. Cody Mauch impressed last year and Cordell Volson the year before in 2022. Dillon Radunz was another player that impressed during the draft process. Zabel dominated during Senior Bowl week and showed that he can play all three interior positions and could probably play some tackle if needed.
One of the better center prospects in the draft is Eli Cox out of Kentucky. He’s a four-year starter at center with 47 starts across center, right guard, and left guard. Cox has a high football IQ and excels in the mental aspect of the game and moves well in space. He’s an older prospect and may not make sense with Beaux Limmer in the building, but Cox is a very good player who could bring some depth and competition on the inside.
Bucket 2: Reliable Starter
- Grey Zabel, North Dakota State
- Jonah Monheim, USC
- Clay Webb, Jackson State
- Jackson Slater, Sacramento State
- Eli Cox, Kentucky
- Jonah Savaiinaea, Arizona
- Joshua Gray, Oregon State
- Jalen Rivers, Miami
- Miles Frazier, LSU
It’s hard to see the Rams taking a center prospect after signing Coleman Shelton. While Monheim projects best as a center, he has 30 combined starts at left tackle and right tackle as well as 12 at center. He has elite versatility and is a fluid mover in space. His quick feet give him an edge in pass protection.
A player that does make a lot of sense as a potential sixth-man is Jonah Savaiinaea from Arizona. Savaiinaea has starts at right tackle and right guard. His experience and versatility make him a great fit as well as his tone-setting mentality. The Rams didn’t bring back Joe Noteboom and Savaiinaea would be a great replacement in that role. His positional flexibility and his experience in zone/duo run schemes make him the ideal starting guard or sixth offensive lineman.
Bucket 3: Math Changing Starter, Range of Caution Flags
- Clay Webb, Jackson State
- Jackson Slater, Sacramento State
Grey Zabel is the only small school player being discussed, but there are a few others worth mentioning that have a lot of upside. Webb is more of a center-guard player, but he’s a natural fit in the Rams offense and an absolute technician in pass protection. His ability to recognize stunts and not panic is very impressive for a small school prospect. Webb moves well in space, is smart and versatile, and a polished player. He provides immediate depth inside with the ability to potentially start in 2026.
Slater is mostly a guard, but could move out to tackle if needed and he also has some snaps at center. The Sacramento State guard is a fluid mover with flashes of technical polish and awareness in pass protection. His athletic profile and experience give him a strong chance to contribute early as a depth player with starting upside.
Bucket 4: Impactful Contributor, Clean Profile
- Grey Zabel, North Dakota State
- Jonah Monheim, USC
- Clay Webb, Jackson State
- Jackson Slater, Sacramento State
- Jonah Savaiinaea, Arizona
- Tyler Booker, Alabama
- Miles Frazier, LSU
- Torricelli Simpkins III, South Carolina
- Joe Huber, Wisconsin
- Drew Kendall, Boston College
Over the past few years, the Rams have shifted away from the smaller, more mobile interior offensive lineman to adding more size. With players like Steve Avila and Kevin Dotson, the Rams have a more physical identity on the interior and Booker is nasty, smart, and stout at guard. With the Rams current setup, unfortunately the fit may not be there.
However, with the Rams potentially looking for more depth, Miles Frazier is a fit. He has starts at every single position outside of center and with his 325 pound frame, he brings serious mass and play strength in gap concepts. Paired with his experience and versatility and Frazier brings a lot to like.
Bucket 5: Talented Enough to Contribute, Less Predictable
- Seth McLaughlin, Ohio State
- Tyler Booker, Alabama
- Dylan Fairchild, Georgia
- Jared Wilson, Georgia
- Tate Ratledge, Georgia
- Garrett Dellinger, LSU
- Marcus Tate, Clemson
- Carson Vinson, Alabama A&M
- Marcus Wehr, Montana State
- Emery Jones Jr., LSU
- Hayden Conner, Texas
The Rams like their offensive linemen to have some versatility and that’s especially the case with their depth. Tate Ratledge is a good player, but has 38 career starts strictly at right guard. He’s a scheme fit, but not necessarily what they need right now.
Meanwhile, Marcus Wehr from Montana State has some guard and tackle experience. He’s a little smaller at 298-pounds, but can get to his spots at the second level in the run game. The Rams have bet on late interior draft prospects in the past and Wehr fits that mold.
Bucket 6: Trustworthy, But Less Talented
- Joshua Gray, Oregon State
- Drew Kendall, Boston College
- Xavier Truss, Georgia
- Jake Majors, Texas
- Connor Colby, Iowa
- Luke Kandra, Cincinnati
- Garrett Dellinger, LSU
- Carson Vinson, Alabama A&M
- Marcus Wehr, Montana State
In past years, the Rams have valued more experienced offensive linemen later in the draft to play in depth roles. Tremayne Anchrum is a player that comes to mind. Gray fits that projection as a player that started four years at left tackle before moving to left guard last season. He’s a five-year starter and team captain. This is the type of player that the Rams have been drawn to in past years.
Kendall is more of a center only prospect with 37 career starts at the position. Again, with Shelton and Limmer there, it seems unlikely that the Rams would go that route in the draft. Kendall is active in pass protection and brings a high football IQ to the position. He has no issues from a processing standpoint. He is slightly undersized and there may not be a spot for him on the current team build.
Bucket 7: Late IQ or PQ
- Torricelli Simpkins III, South Carolina
- Xavier Truss, Georgia
- Jake Majors, Texas
- Connor Colby, Iowa
- Luke Kandra, Cincinnati
- Marcus Tate, Clemson
Simpkins III is a late processor with disappointing vision and awareness while Tate also has some awareness issues. Truss and Majors are both below average athletically and have physical limitations.
Bucket 8: Major Concerns, Off Board, or Reconsider After Draft
- Emery Jones Jr., LSU
- Hayden Conner, Texas
It’s hard to see the Rams drafting Jones Jr. or Conner. Jones Jr. has a lack of versatility and significant pass-protection flaws which raise red flags. Conner is one dimensional with weaknesses in pass protection and a lack of versatility.
Bucket 9: Likely Drafted, Not a Rams Fit
It’s hard to find a player on the interior that’s absolutely not a Rams fit. There are some players that may not be a fit for the current team build, especially at center. With that said, if the right situation presented itself, the Rams may still draft a player at that spot.
