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

Familiar faces await Avila in 2025

When rookie Steve Avila arrived at the Rams in 2023, he was sandwiched between veterans Alaric Jackson at left tackle and Coleman Shelton at center. In 2025, Steve Avila is projected to be sandwiched between veterans Alaric Jackson at left tackle and Coleman Shelton at center. And that is a huge plus for the Rams, because Avila is at his best when he can trust his teammates.

Even as a rookie, Avila was remarkably adept at keeping his head on a swivel and peeling off a neutralized defender to help out a teammate with a defensive lineman who was getting through. It was that willingness to intercede on his teammates' behalf that made him such an important part of the Rams' success in 2023.

With his return to the same configuration, Avila can refocus on his left guard role. He need not overcompensate to help out a rookie center. He needn't help out a backup or third-string offensive tackle. Avila can do what he does best - pancake defenders.

What does this mean for the LA Rams offense in 2025? Well, good things happen to those who wait. With the return of Avila to a familiar role and familiar surroundings, he can be expected to finally reach the next tier of his NFL career. And the Rams offense will benefit from that progress immensely.

Rams veteran right guard Kevin Dotson had a remarkable 2024 season, enjoying an overall grade from Pro Football Focus of 81.3 in the regular season. Nothing is preventing left guard Steve Avila from attaining that same level of proficiency in his third NFL season. While he only finished with an overall grade of 67.1 in 2024, he only played in 10 of the 17 games. He sat out seven games on injured reserve last season.

Avila is a quality offensive lineman who is willing to do whatever the Rams ask of him. The team experimented in 2024 with a number of offensive line changes that never panned out. As Steve Avila returns to his starting left guard role in 2024, look for his career to return to an impressive growth track. Steve Avila may be an X-Factor to some. But he is as close to a sure thing as you will find on this Rams roster.

As always, thanks for reading.

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