As minicamp nears, Rams hold more questions than answers over OL status

Question 4 - Will the real Rams starting center please stand up?

Rookie center Beaux Limmer has nothing to be ashamed of when looking back at the 2024 NFL season. He was drafted in Round 6 of the 2024 NFL Draft, despite being the fourth-highest ranked rookie center on the draft board. On some draft boards, he was projected as early as Day 2. So the Rams selecting him so late in the draft was an unexpected bargain.

Limmer appeared in 16 regular-season games and started 14 games in 2024. Per his 2024 grades from Pro Football Focus, he was better than expected as a run blocker, but struggled with pass blocking. That comes as no surprise, as he had to await his training camp reps behind veterans Steve Avila and Jonah Jackson. Much of his work with the starting offensive linemen had to occur as on-the-job training (OJT) as he was thrust into a starting role in Week 1.

But he was ineffective in the playoffs, earning a PFF pass blocking grade of 34.9. That is the equivalent of an orange pylon, and it was pretty accurate when revisiting hsi performance against Philadelphia Eagles DT Jalen Carter.

Shelton is the more polished veteran, a center who has deep familiarity with the Rams' offensive linemen, offense, and coaching staff. Best of all, he is solid at both run and pass blocking. Shelton was the Rams starting center for Super Bowl LVI, so he has earned the dependability merit badge for postseason competition.

While Beaux Limmer is not going to like the idea, he will be a better player in the future to take a demotion to backup center in stride. The Rams are vying for one more ring for veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford. Beaux Limmer's chapter as the starting center begins as soon as the successor to Stafford takes over the team's offensive reins.