5 veteran outbound free agents who the LA Rams will miss in 2021

OC Blythe

I don’t think anyone will confuse LA Rams offensive center Austin Blythe as the next NFL star offensive lineman, and I am by no means here to change anyone’s mind. But I am here to share that I believe that the Rams will wish that they have cut him the $1 million contract to remain.  After all, for a starting offensive center, that is pocket change.

Blythe was all about showing up and doing what was asked of him.

Los Angeles Rams

In fact, the 6-foot-3 298-pound offensive lineman had done so since he was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts with the 248th pick of the 2016 NFL Draft. The Colts cut him the following year, and the Rams signed him off their waiver wire the next day. Blythe, if you recall, hailed from the Iowa Hawkeyes, the same alma mater as that of Alaric Jackson.

Blythe played primarily special teams for the Rams in 2017 but did get a chance to start the final game of the season when the Rams rested their starters. He took over at right guard for offensive linemen Jamon Brown in 2018, and the rest is history. While Blythe did not show up in highlight reels (few offensive linemen do), he was a steady player who earned much less than his NFL counterparts so the Rams front office could make headlines with huge deals to Jared Goff, Brandin Cooks, and Todd Gurley.

Blythe gave the Rams a versatile offensive lineman who was a huge bargain. Those types of players tend to be missed sooner or later.