5 reasons why LA Rams signing UDFA OT Alaric Jackson is a big deal

The LA Rams may not have drafted an offensive lineman, but as we have urged all along, don’t judge too harshly until the Rams form the final 90 man roster.  The reason is simple. The Rams are not done until they are done. And no, they are not even done yet. Still, the exodus of their starting center was a bit unnerving to many fans. And the 2019 injury-riddled patchwork line experience still weighs heavily on the minds of many.

Comparatively, the LA Rams offensive line played very well in 2020. But it was still playing in the shadow of the 2019 disappointment. And the Rams did not create any events that would trigger a new train of thought. The 2019 roster that disappointed many returned in 2020 and played well enough to earn consensus NFL Top-Five grades.

Still, the belief that a fundamental and permanent improvement required new blood. The damage was already done.  Opinions were already formed, and those opinions were firmly established. It’s tough to force minds to change by pointing to young offensive linemen’s careers improving over time without hard evidence, and that evidence is dependant upon playing. It’s a Catch-22, folks.

So many expected the team to target offensive linemen in the 2021 NFL Draft. They didn’t, and in all honesty, never seemed to show much interest. But the team did add a meaningful offensive lineman to the roster when the reports broke about the Rams signing former Iowa starting left tackle Alaric Jackson as an undrafted free agent.

In the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t matter how rookies arrive on the roster, just that they get there. So now that he’s here, what can we say about him?