The Los Angeles Rams traded back three times, made nine total selections and took four players on offense. Not a single one of them was an offensive lineman, however.
It was by far the most shocking development in the draft for the Rams, even more surprising than their decision to draft a 155-pound wide receiver at No. 57 overall. For a team that lost its starting center Austin Blythe in free agency, it seemed as though the offensive line would be a much higher priority.
They even took a running back before addressing the offensive line, which stunned fans on Twitter. But Sean McVay gave a reason for the Rams passing on all the linemen in this class: depth.
Very simply, he and Les Snead like the players the Rams already have along the offensive front, most of whom have played meaningful snaps in the NFL.
Rams head coach Sean McVay on the team not drafting an offensive lineman this year: "There's a lot of depth with the 11 players we have in that room today. All of them have played meaningful games." In other words, reflects confidence in current group they have in-house.
— Stu Jackson (@StuJRams) May 1, 2021
At tackle, it’ll be Andrew Whitworth and Rob Havenstein as the starters again. At guard, the questions begin to surface. David Edwards and Austin Corbett are likely to remain the starters there after playing well last season, but Joe Noteboom and Bobby Evans also showed they can line up at guard.
Tremayne Anchrum can play guard or tackle, while Chandler Brewer is also returning after opting out of the 2020 season. And then there’s Jamil Demby, who the Rams have kept around for a few years despite cutting him once before.
At center is where the glaring need resides. Blythe is gone, but Brian Allen and Coleman Shelton are both on the roster. And if neither of them pans out as the starter in the middle, Corbett is a candidate to move inside to center.
McVay expressed confidence in that possibility, lauding Corbett’s versatility, as well as the Rams’ other guards’ ability to move around.
McVay was asked about not drafting a center as well and the status of Brian Allen's health, said Brian Allen is feeling good. Reiterates having guards with positional flexibility, and also expressed confidence that guard Austin Corbett could excel at center if he tried it out.
— Stu Jackson (@StuJRams) May 1, 2021
It’s not a surprising answer from McVay, but it’s still curious that they chose not to take one of the top centers in the draft – guys like Creed Humphrey and Quinn Meinerz, who were both available when the Rams went on the clock in Round 2 and 3.
We’ll have to wait and see how this strategy works out, but Allen looked overmatched in 2019 and Corbett struggled at center with the Browns. Clearly the Rams feel good about both players, though.
