5 Rams free agents who could be forced into retirement

The LA Rams have been relatively adept at reforming the roster with enough talent to win games since hiring Sean McVay as the head coach in 2017. But that does not mean that every player signed to the roster has panned out. Some do well enough in a game to pique curiosity over their upside potential, only to fade back onto the bench. Others may have a solid season, but never seem to break through to a meaningful role over time.

Still others never seem to deliver on their potential and promises.

It's not something to be ashamed about. The NFL is a very physical and demanding sport that exacts a heavy toll on players. One mistimed injury can derail the development track of a talented rookie, setting them back months or years. Two serious injuries to even the toughest veteran can simply stop a solid NFL career dead in its tracks.

Out of curiosity, I wanted to find out what the average career length of an NFL Player works out to be. Per Statista.com, they have calculated it to be just 3.3 years. Some positions like quarterback extend beyond four years, while running backs may remain in the league no longer than 2.5 seasons. That is a bit mind-blowing.

Super Bowl center of attention

It baffles the mind to recollect that center Brian Allen was the starting center for the LA Rams in Super Bowl LVI. But that is the track record of Super Bowl centers for the Rams, isn't it? (John Sullivan retired after Super Bowl LIII). Just three years later, he is off the team and the likelihood of his being signed by another team is an uphill battle.

The 2024 NFL Draft class is loaded with young, healthy, talented, and inexpensive centers, probably one of the deepest rookie classes that the NFL has seen for some time. As a result, several teams are releasing talented veterans as cap casualties in the hopes of signing a less expense (and younger) option.

In this environment, the talented but oft-injured Brian Allen may not attract much interest. He may still have some offensive snaps in him, but after his release from the Rams roster, will another team be willing to give him another opportunity to play?