4 players from NFL Free Agency to amp LA Rams for training camp

C Kilgore

Center Daniel Kilgore may be familiar to many, as he was a former seventh-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers who was eventually traded to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a swap of seventh-round picks in 2018. But as some stories sometimes do, Kilgore was injured and did not fulfill the role. The Rams may have even had Kilgore in their sights in 2019, as he was a logical player to consider after failing to retain John Sullivan.

Kilgore immediately went to work for the team as the starter, replacing center Mike Pouncy.  But an injury after four games sidelined him for the remainder of the season.  Feeling the pressure, he tried to return to the starting lineup in 2019, but only saw action in 13 games.  The Dolphins did not pick up his contract extension.  So what makes him the energizer bunny for the locker room?

A veteran presence in a young lockerroom

That’s his superpower, apparently. He was a voice of calm and tranquility as the Dolphins made many roster moves. And as a veteran offensive center, he should be on the LA Rams radar. His Pro Football Focus grade for 2019 is a healthy 66.3. While that is not elite status, it’s better than the Rams projected starter for 2019, Austin Blythe, who finished 2019 with a PFF grade of just 50.3. The Rams offense depends upon the play of their center. That play must be dependable in 2020. A veteran like Dan Kilgore, while not enough to splash national headlines, could be exactly the type of player the Rams need right now.

2020 is one of the most bizarre years of modern history. It would be wise for the Rams to add a voice of calm and tranquility to the locker room for this season. Let’s face it. The unpredictable nature of COVID-19 could force the Rams to quarantine veterans like Andrew Whitworth and Aaron Donald at the same time.  Duplicating sage wisdom this season would be a proactive approach to what could happen in 2020. And in the process, the Rams sign up a solid veteran who can give quality snaps at a position they are struggling to stabilize.