NFL experts turn spotlight on an under-the-radar Rams star as the 2025 X-factor

The Los Angeles Rams have several reasons to be optimistic about the 2025 NFL season. After a deeply disappointing 5-12 record after winning Super Bowl LVI, the team has rebounded soundly with two consecutive 10-7 seasons. And much of that success is a result of excellent drafts in both 2023 and 2024. The Rams roster has not only been getting stronger, but deeper as well.

So it comes as no surprise that Pro Football Focus has shown a bit of praise to the Rams roster in a recent 2025 NFL Roster Rankings article. Despite the parting of ways with veteran WR Cooper Kupp and a handful of other key contributors from last season, the writing duo of Max Chadwick and Dalton Wasserman continues to view the Rams' roster among the NFL's Top-10.

They rank the Rams roster as eighth in the NFL for 2025.

For each team, the duo rated every 32 NFL team's roster in terms of the greatest strength, weakness, rookie to watch, and sole player considered to be the team's X-Factor. But when the PFF article pivoted to the Los Angeles Rams, the duo named third-year offensive lineman Steve Avila as the Rams' X-Factor. And here is what they had to say about Avila:

"After posting a solid 65.0 PFF pass-blocking grade in 2023, left guard Steve Avila saw his 2024 season marred by an early injury. He also lost valuable preseason reps at guard while going through a temporary trial at center. The Rams will need Avila to greatly improve upon his 50.6 PFF pass-blocking grade from last season in order to protect their aging quarterback."

Max Chadwick and Dalton Wasserman

The Rams' offensive line was anything but stable in 2024. The team may not have been under the spotlight over offensive linemen injuries, but the team did suit up and start 12 different offensive linemen. And in the 17 games of 2024, the team only sent out the same five starting offensive linemen for two or more consecutive games three times. The team only managed to start the same five offensive linemen in four consecutive games once.

So the Rams were a bit of a kaleidoscope in terms of offensive line iterations. Still, few NFL analysts refer to the specific players from the offensive line as a wildcard for 2025.

So, it's a very curious insight from a pair who ran the same template for every NFL team. How did they aim so adeptly at Steve Avila? Let's break down the focus on the Rams' starting left guard and try to get a sense of whether or not he will truly rebound in 2025.