Rams luring Matthew Stafford back gives them opening to ensure his protection

The Los Angeles Rams have successfully weathered the nasty storm of choppy waters, finding safe harborage at the right moment to ensure that the team has a veteran quarterback at the helm once more in 2025. That quarterback is neither Aaron Rodgers nor Jimmy Garoppolo. The great wizard of pocket passers, Matthew Stafford, is back. And it's the biggest headline in the NFL right now, in the heart of the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine.

Of course, the old adage for NFL teams rules that if you get your quarterback, the next most important player on that roster is to ensure that he gets his blind-side offensive tackle. No, Stafford is not a rookie, but the Rams are sticking that tried and true pattern of protecting the quarterback. You see, left tackle Alaric Jackson has outplayed his contract with the Rams for the past two seasons. In the eddy behind the rocks of Stafford's renegotiated deal, the Rams were able to ensure that Alaric Jackson will come back to the fold:

Jackson and the Rams have agreed to a new 3-year deal worth $57 million

The Rams front office has hit it's second 2025 offseason grand slam. WIth Jackson, the Rams get a fundamentally sound offensive tackle who has emerged as the lynchpin to the team's new cast of offensive linemen. And with this deal, the Rams have finally poured cash into the pocket of a guy who has earned his role with the team through the sweat of his own brow.

That's a fundamental reason to give Alaric Jackson this extension. For the first time in his NFL career, the Rams have invested in the true successor to Andrew Whitworth, the guy who has been a rocky-steady contributor to the quality of the offensive line.

With his return, the Rams have made enough proactive progress in the 2025 NFL offseason to limit their needs in the 2025 NFL Draft and in the 2025 NFL Free Agency market. Of course, that merely means that the team is more open to explore adding the best available talent to the Rams roster, and that's a good thing.

And with Jackson back, the Rams starting offensive line is very much falling into place. The Rams can reasonably expect the starting offensive line to be:

• LT Alaric Jackson
• LG Steve Avila
• C Beaux Limmer
• RG Kevin Dotson
• RT Rob Havenstein

Of course, the Rams should give serious consideration to finding a successor, and not just a backup, to veteran right tackle Rob Havenstein. The team currently boasts Warren McClendon Jr., A.J. Arcuri, and K.T. Leveston in the mix. But there is room in OTAs and training camp for more players to throw their helmets into contention for a backup role at offensive tackle.

The Rams front office ended yesterday with serious question marks over the direction that the offseason would take. Now, 24 hours later, the Rams front office has addressed two huge question marks on the offensive side of the ball.

Needed a reason to smile? You got it. And as always, thanks for reading

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