John Sullivan only buys time for the Rams at center

The Los Angeles Rams continue to do all the right things this 2018 offseason. In a deal that maintains the status quo on the offensive line, LA signs center John Sullivan to a two year deal.

The Los Angeles Rams signed center John Sullivan to a two-year deal worth $15 million. The question now is does this solve an issue for LA or is it this a short term solution?

Without a doubt, Sullivan was a rock and an anchor for a very mature offensive line. He’s also 33 years old and playing a position that isn’t always conducive to the AARP type of player he and tackle Andrew Whitworth are.

It is also a signing that now indicates the Rams are more likely than ever to draft a linebacker or edge rusher in round one of the 2018 NFL Draft.

My question is whether that’s a smart move or not.

Look, everyone will now simply sign off on the offensive line for 2018. But I’ve long been advocating that sooner rather than later, Los Angeles needs to draft a bridge to the future and not necessarily on defense. The O-line is the one area yet to see a significant investment in youth, and if LA isn’t careful, it’ll sneak up on them when a player like Jared Goff is hitting his prime.

As good as the Rams have been this offseason, nearly brilliant in assembling a killer defensive backfield, and restructuring Tavon Austin, Los Angeles has been less inclined to cultivate long term talent on the offensive line.

Next: Three lineman the Rams should target in the first round

Hey, at some point LA needs to be targeting players who become the next Orlando Pace. The Rams need some big uglies up front to protect their would be franchise quarterback as they move into the future AND the Inglewood facility.

And ultimately, they need to move on from players who are closer to the end than the beginning.

I love Sullivan, and he did yeoman’s work on that offensive line. But at some point, Les Snead and Sean McVay need to draft the next generation in early rounds that keep Goff upright.