LA Rams extend their 3rd OL, Coleman Shelton, just hours into FA

Right out of the gates, the LA Rams extended OT Joseph Noteboom on a three-year $40+ million contract. Moments later, the LA Rams were at it again, reportedly agreeing on a three-year $24 million deal for offensive center Brian Allen. If you haven’t noticed the pattern yet, you soon will.

The Rams struck for the third time, this time with a reported deal in place for interior offensive lineman Coleman Shelton. Even as Shelton was a restricted free agent with the option to tender a one-year contract, the LA Rams flat-out negotiated a two-year deal with the veteran offensive lineman instead.

Before March 14, 2022, the LA Rams offensive line was in quite a bit of turmoil. But after the third offensive lineman has been extended, the unit appears to be ripped and raring to go. If the extensions are any indication for who the Rams will likely start in 2022, we will have a rather impressive offensive line.

Rams offensive line taking shape

With Joseph Noteboom, David Edwards, Brian Allen, Coleman Shelton, and Rob Havenstein as the most likely projected starters, the Rams will have a solid configuration of blockers who will be good at both the pass and at the run. Both Noteboom and Shelton are noteworthy as blockers who can get downfield and block linebackers and defensive backs.

The news of Brian Allen’s extension dimmed hopes of the team re-signing Shelton, particularly in light of the fact that both started as the offensive center in 2021. But earlier in the day, Ramblin Fan contributor Tareq Rafiq reported the rumor that LA Rams COO Kevin Demoff told him that some players would not be re-signed to the team to clear cap space. Then Demoff named Austin Corbett as one such cap casualty.  Well he got that right as Corbett is signing with the Carolina Panthers.

That is pretty big stuff heading into the opening hours of the NFL Free Agency market. That likely places Shelton, not Corbett, in as the team’s starting right guard for 2022.  As it stands right now, the Rams are set on the offensive line. Noteboom is there to take over at left tackle if Andrew Whitworth retires. And Shelton is there to take over at right guard if Corbett signs elsewhere.

This is just hours into the NFL Free Agency market, and the team has yet to announce any reworked contracts to make any of these signings possible given the fact that the team projects to be over the 2022 NFL Salary Cap by a significant margin. C’est la vie in the NFL. That can always be tomorrow’s topic for discussion.