Rob Havenstein leaks hidden clues to Rams draft strategy with Shelton welcome

While Los Angeles Rams starting right tackle Rob Havenstein is doing everything in his power to be at his best for the 2025 NFL season, he is aware of the team's roster moves. One such roster move that directly impacts the Rams' offensive line is the team re-signing veteran center Coleman Shelton. And from the comments Haventstein made in his recent interview, he is rolling out the red carpet for his former teammate.

And yet, if you hold his comments up to the sunlight at just the right angle, you find a lot more meaning embedded in his remarks. But before we decrypt his coded comments, let's revisit the team's 2024 NFL Draft haul for background.

The LA Rams may have focused on the defensive side of the football early in the 2024 NFL Draft, but GM Les Snead did salvo the offensive line with several talented rookie additions. The team drafted IOL Beaux Limmer and OT K.T. Leveston, while adding IOL Justin Dedich after the draft was concluded. Injuries forced the Rams to promote both rookies, Limmer and Dedich, to starting roles last season. Unfortunately, injuries and limited IR activations compelled the team to leave rookie Leveston on IR all season.

For the most part, rookies held up well. But in the Divisional round of the NFL Playoffs, Beaux Limmer's inexperience allowed blocking assignment breakdowns in the game which allowed the Philadelphia Eagles to get DT Jalen Carter unblocked on two critical plays. Those miscues hurt the Rams chances of victory at critical moments during the game.

Havenstein masks messages about the Rams draft in his interview

Veteran right tackles is the longest tenured offensive lineman on the Rams roster, and one of the longest tenured players on the Rams overall roster as well. As such, he knows that he was once one of the young rookie players arriving to the NFL eager to earn playing time and contribute right away. But now, he is the senior statesman of the team, and knows that he must lead by example.

That leadership role likely led to Havenstein getting both shoulders cleaned up in the offseason. Whikle the medicak procedures may limit his participation during OTAs, he should be fully prepared to resume his starting role this season. And in his interview talking about offseason matter, Havenstein gave a ringing endorsement for the Rams reunion with former starting center Coleman Shelton. And Havenstein alluded to private conversations with second-year center Beaux Limmer, That was likely an explanation to Limmer to not fret over the addition of Coleman Shelton, and to prepare every day as though he is the starting center.

Competition for the starting center position is going to be fierce in Rams training camp. But in that conversation, Rob Havenstein let some hidden clues leak about the Rams draft plans:

"A lot of people who are not excited for (the draft) are the guys already on teams. There (are) people coming in to take your job, which is the way it should be. You have to prove yourself year in and year out, whether guys are slated to start or not."

Rob Havenstein

So what hidden message is embedded in that common sense quip? The LA Rams had frequently been mocked to drafting an offensive tackle early in the draft, and offensive linemen throughout the draft. If the Rams front office does so, I expect those roster additions to happen on Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft. Here's why:

The Rams added three rookies to the offensive line depth in last year's draft, and swapped out veteran IOL Jonah Jackson for IOL Coleman Shelton in the offseason. While there are solid arguments to be made about roster depth and succession plans, the Rams have ample firepower at the offensive line to compete right now. And with veterans on the roster like QB Matthew Stafford, TE Tyler Higbee, WR Davante Adams, and even RT Rob Havenstein, the team is likely to lean in favor of starting veterans this season.

While that does not eliminate the chances of the Rams adding offensive linemen at some point during the draft, it does seem to nudge the Rams into drafting talented but raw offensive linemen who are likely to be on the draft board on Day 3.

We had projected some offensive tackles who could be on the board when the Rams enter Round 6 to select four rookie prospects. They are all rather impressive. So even if the team does not jump into the draft by selecting an offensive lineman early, the team could emerge with future starters. With the starting roles seemingly already locked down for 2025, that may be the wisest strategy of all.

As always, thanks for reading.

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