What if…? This LA Rams IOL shockingly opts for free agency?

The LA Rams offensive line was not exactly a strong suit for the team in 2022. But if you sit down and watch the games, you may notice that one of the team’s unsung heroes on that offensive line, IOL Coleman Shelton, did a pretty good job for the team when he played. And of all the offensive linemen who suited up for the LA Rams in 2022, Shelton played the second most number of offensive snaps at 788.

Only right tackle Rob Havenstein had more playing time, as he played 1018 offensive snaps. So what’s the problem?

The LA Rams signed Shelton to a two-year inexpensive contract in 2022 to return to play for the team in 2022 and 2023. That contract cost the Rams $3.25 million over two years, but the second year was optional.  And that option is not reported to be at the player’s, and not the team’s, discretion.

Yikes!

In a word? Yikes!

Well, before we show fear and concern, let’s talk about Coleman Shelton, and why I believe he is one of the keys to getting this Rams offensive line back on track in 2023. He is both young and quite versatile, starting at all three of the Rams’ interior offensive line positions and playing well.

As the second most dependable player on the Rams roster on the offensive line, Coleman Shelton was often associated with the poor performance of the group over the course of the 2022 NFL season. But don’t let a bad apple spoil the bunch for you. Shelton was remarkably active and effective as a blocker for the LA Rams. I love how the team performed when he was under center.