LA Rams offensive line ranked third best in NFL for 2020 by PFF

Center of attention

The LA Rams benefitted greatly from a solid season at the center position from veteran Austin Blythe.  The Rams re-signed all of their offensive linemen from free agency in 2020. In the case of Blythe, the Rams brought him back on a one-year deal. Has he played well enough to earn another extension?

When the Rams released center Cohl Cabral from the practice squad, the decision seemed to show confidence that the Rams had a plan in place to address the offensive center position for 2021 that did not require Cabral to compete for a starting role. Much like 2020, the LA Rams must decide on the fate of Blythe, tight end Johnny Mundt and exclusive rights free agent Coleman Shelton.

Of course, the Rams have 2019 starting center Brian Allen waiting in the wings, who will likely compete for a starting role. As the roster stands now, he has no competition facing him for the center position for 2021. I suspect that the Rams will want to change that, but I am by no means declaring that the Rams will make the offensive line a priority in the upcoming 2021 NFL Draft. On the contrary, I suspect that the team will target a raw prospect late in the draft for the offensive line, and may sign several more after the draft.

That is not to say that the team will be without reinforcements. The team welcomes back Jamil Demby, who was on the 20202 practice squad. And the team will welcome back offensive tackle Chandler Brewer, who opted out of the 2020 NFL Season. He will return to the team in 2021 as well.  The team also has the huge upside of offensive lineman Tremayne Anchrum, who impressed coaches in his rookie season, and who could be a huge competitor for a starting role for the team in 2021.

The Rams could simply go with who they currently have on the roster now for a run in 2021. The loss of Austin Blythe could be absorbed by Jamil Demby, Brian Allen, or even moving Austin Corbett to center. Nobody expected the Rams to finish among the Top-Ten offensive lines in the NFL. But they didn’t, they finished among the top three. The sad thing is, nobody believes it.