NFL Draft 2021: LA Rams 5 bold OL predictions

Prediction II

The first offensive lineman drafted by the LA Rams will never have played offensive center before. What the heck does that mean? Well, in short, it means that the Rams will most likely draft an offensive tackle who they can cross-train into an interior offensive lineman role later. But it also means that the Rams will not have the chance to target an offensive center first.

The Rams have a lot of needs heading into this draft. Unfortunately, that has not dissuaded the Rams from primarily meeting with cornerbacks and wide receivers in this draft class. Of course, the Rams are not a team that broadcasts their draft moves.

Rams head coach Sean McVay knows that success in the 2021 NFL season means keeping newly acquired veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford upright. So he will not resist the efforts to add depth at the offensive line. With the staunch differences of opinion of how prospects rank relative to one another, the Rams could find themselves blessed with too many quality options when they step up to the virtual podium for the first pick in this draft.

Offensive tackles are always a popular pick in the NFL draft. Even if the players do not make the transition to an NFL starter, it will always be a safe bet to select one.  In the 2021 NFL Draft class, there are 31 offensive tackles, 12 offensive centers, and 30 offensive guards with draftable grades per NFL.com’s draft board. That is a far cry different from the Draft Network where only 25 interior offensive linemen and 28 offensive tackles crack the top 300 prospects.