Heading into the 2026 NFL Draft, everything seems to be pointing toward the Los Angeles Rams taking a wide receiver with their first pick. That’s logical considering the lack of depth behind Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, but it’s certainly not a must-draft position in Round 1.
Former Rams quarterback Jim Everett has another spot in mind for the Rams at No. 13 overall: offensive line.
In an interview with Action Network, Everett pointed out that four of the Rams’ five offensive linemen are only under contract through the 2026 season. Coleman Shelton, Steve Avila, Kevin Dotson and Warren McClendon Jr. are all set to be free agents in 2027 if they don’t re-sign with the Rams beforehand, which is a slight problem for Los Angeles.
For that reason, he could “easily see” the Rams using their top pick on an offensive lineman, specifically a tackle who can provide some insurance behind Alaric Jackson and McClendon.
“Four of the five Rams’ offensive linemen are in the final year of their contract,” Everett said. “You can’t negotiate with every single one of them, and you have no leverage if you don’t have anybody that could possibly take their spot. A general manager is a general manager, not just this year, but hopefully for years. And so job security would mean I need to find somebody that I could put leverage on my right tackle, because I don’t want to pay my right tackle $25 million next year.
“A rookie allows you to pay him a lot less for the first four, possibly five years, depending on options. So I think offensive lineman make fiscal sense. It makes sense as far as being in development. And then maybe if you get a guy like the Utah kid (Spencer) Fano, maybe he plays guard for a minute, right? He learns the system before he moves out. So I can easily see an offensive lineman there.”
The Rams should feel good about their starting offensive line right now, but it’s hardly solidified for the future. Though the Rams are unlikely to let all four players leave in 2027 once their contracts expire, it’ll also be difficult to re-sign each one of them.
By drafting a rookie lineman, the Rams will give themselves some leverage along the line when it comes to contract negotiations, as well as a fallback plan in case someone inevitably gets injured.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Jim Everett explains why he can ‘easily see’ Rams drafting O-lineman at 13
Reporting by Cameron DaSilva, Rams Wire / Rams Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
