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

IV – Versatility is a huge plus

Okay, so when the LA Rams seek help on the offensive line, they typically look for three things. They want a lineman who can pass protect. They also seek out a lineman who can create movement forward for the running game. But the final characteristic that is a universal consensus is the ability to be versatile in the NFL. Few NFL offensive linemen start and remain at the only position for their entire NFL career.

Los Angeles Rams

Either on the way up, the way down, or both, NFL offensive linemen will inevitably come face to face with the need to learn another position.  Perhaps it’s to make the 53-man roster? Perhaps it’s to remain a starter on the offensive line?  Perhaps it’s even the ultimate transformation necessary to remain on the 53-man roster.

For NFL coaches, the more a player can do successfully, the value of that player is amplified.  Thanks to the NFL salary cap and 53-man roster limits, the more an offensive lineman can do, the fewer linemen are needed as backups. The Rams had a far greater number of injuries to offensive linemen in 2019. So the team opted to carry a greater number of offensive linemen on the roster than usual.

A player like Jackson has seen plenty, even from the confines of NCAA football. In each game, he’s gained more experience, played with a bit more polish and shine. He was a bonafide veteran of the war-in-the-trenches time and time again. It’s there in the film.  He does more than just show up. He puts everything he’s got on the field of play.