How certain are the Rams of Steve Avila's performance in 2024 as the new center?

When the LA Rams selected former TCU interior offensive lineman Steve Avila with the 36th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the team helped themselves to the first interior offensive linemen who was selected in that draft class. Not only did that ensure that the team got their guy to start instantly at left guard for the team in 2023. It also means that the roster added one of the most versatile offensive linemen in the draft.

In 2024, the team is cashing in their chips on that versatility factor, moving Avila from his 2023 starting role at left guard, and plopping him right into the middle of the offensive line. Is he up to the challenge of commanding the team's protection and blocking assignments in just his second NFL season?

The LA Rams coaching staff certainly thinks so. Otherwise, the team would never have pulled the trigger at signing veteran dedicated left guard Jonah Jackson. Signing Jackson created a cascade of other personnel moves that included: Moving Steve Avila to center and passing on extending former starting center Coleman Shelton.

It was a transition we guessed at right after the Rams' 2023 NFL season ended. NFL Insider and analyst Brian Baldinger is among Avila's fan club, calling him 'Rookie Gold.' But even LA Rams GM Les Snead admitted that they pivoted from extending Coleman Shelton to signing Jonah Jackson mid-stream in the 2024 NFL Free Agency market.

While the Rams coaching staff certainly signed off on transplanting Avila from left guard to center, what are the opinions of other third party NFL analysts? One analyst who has consistently been objective and honest is Justin Melo, the NFL Draft analyst extraordinaire from The Draft Network. In a recent article, he lauded Steve Avila as a solid second-year offensive lineman, despite his migration to a new starting role.

He even cites the possibility of Steve Avila earning Pro Bowl honors this season:

I think he is onto something.

The more I review the play of Steve Avila, the more I see an incredibly active offensive lineman who was as effective at helping out his teammates like LT Alaric Jackson and C Coleman Shelton as he was in neutralizing his own defensive responsibility.

Avila was ever-vigilant and active, popping defenders just in time to keep them stuck at the line of scrimmage. And as soon as he put one defender on his heels, he was seeking another defender to stop a jailbreak. How effective will Steve Avila be in 2024? While it's a new role for the young blocker, he has all the necessary prerequisites already checked off.

Certain success? Perhaps not. But it's clear that Steve Avila is built for a huge role in any offensive line, and he takes over at a time when the coaching staff is investing heavily into the group as a unit. And the team has drafted a solid backup in Beaux Limmer as an option for "In case of emergency, just break glass."

Avila will come through for the team in 2024. Don't take my word for it. But you can rely on the word fo Brian Baldinger and Justin Melo.

As always, thanks for reading.