What if the Rams don’t draft a center in the 2021 NFL Draft?

Realistically speaking, if the LA Rams do not draft a center on day two of the 2021 NFL Draft, what are the realistic odds that they will draft one at all? Probably not very high. Will that keep you up at night? It shouldn’t. After all, the LA Rams have more intimate knowledge about their roster than we do. And to be honest, I don’t think anyone has sure-fire information about this draft class. The data is simply imperfect. Some players filled the entire season. Other players didn’t play at all. Still, the third group of players handled a modified schedule.

Now, compare them all. No wonder no draft board is even comparatively close to another.

The Rams cannot believe that a rookie with little to no training camp is going to excel for the offensive line. That’s not likely to succeed. And so, the Rams are not putting a knee-jerk reaction into existence with hours remaining before the draft under the ‘what if no center falls to us’ category. The team has had months to figure this one out.

It all falls back to the decision to release practice squad center, Cohl Cabral. The organization knew that the 2021 salary cap would be constraining. The team also was fully aware that there was no certainty to re-sign veteran Austin Blythe.

The team had a choice of keeping Cohl Cabral or releasing him. They chose to release him. The team also has a choice of re-signing Austin Blythe or letting him sign elsewhere. They watched him sign elsewhere. As angry and as frustrated as these decisions make some fans, it was a deliberate consensus of the front office and coaching staff.

However fans view them, the Rams organization clearly sees strong value in both Brian Allen and Coleman Shelton. We have lobbied for Coleman Shelton to get a chance at the center, and this truly may be his year. But you needn’t take our word for it. Just watch what the LA Rams do in this draft.
After all, even if they fail to draft one, they can quickly sign a free agent after the draft.

Is this draft a failure if the team doesn’t draft a center? Not in the least. Judge the draft by who the team does draft, you will be very pleased.