Veteran Rams starter already looks like odd man out (sooner rather than later)

Los Angeles Rams center Coleman Shelton will be a free agent after this season, putting pressure on the team to start thinking about a replacement. With his 2026 cap hit of $9.5 million, some speculated that the Rams would try to find a cheap substitute in free agency, enabling them to cut Shelton and save a chunk of change.

That didn't happen, though, and no new center is coming in from the draft. For now, it's Shelton's job to lose - clearly. Seven NFL seasons and over 3,300 snaps in the past three don't count for nothing.

He's also entering his age-31 season, however, and the Horns will have three other free agents on the o-line alone. Re-signing some combination of Kevin Dotson, Steve Avila, and Warren McClendon will be the more important task on the docket. Compared to the behemoths around him, Shelton sticks out for his lack of positional size. He is already an outlier. 

Given his age, cost, and the priority of retaining other free agents, he seems an unlikely candidate to return next offseason.  Even this season, he'll have to fend off fierce competition to guarantee his starting job. He knows it, the Rams know it, and so do the youngsters behind him. Summer camp should be fun.

One-time Rams starter may be eyeing Shelton's spot already

Backup offensive lineman Beaux Limmer has a case as Shelton's default successor. The Rams appeared to tag him as such two years ago. A sixth-round pick out of Arkansas, Limmer started 14 games as a rookie after Shelton was let go ahead of the 2024 season.

That experiment didn't last long. For all intents and purposes, it ended with Limmer's humiliating blunder against the Eagles in the playoffs. The ensuing sack on a third-and-two derailed the Horns' last-minute comeback attempt on the doorstep. In 2025 free agency, they promptly brought back Shelton on a two-year deal.

Limmer saw only 55 snaps last season, mostly at guard. He will no doubt want to prove himself worthy of a second chance. With Shelton only getting older and on an expiring contract, he may get one. 

It helps that Limmer has the size the Rams value on the front lines. In weight, he carries around a 25-pound edge over Shelton. A strong summer is step No. 1 for Limmer's bid to be reinstated as the starting center in 2027. 

Los Angeles must consider all options to prepare for Shelton's departure

If Shelton loses a step before then, don't be too surprised to see Los Angeles roll out a different look. Limmer would be the first choice, but Dylan McMahon, who has spent two seasons as a Rams backup, can throw his hat in the ring during camp. Undrafted free agent Chad Lindberg, whose college career covered stints at Georgia, Rice, and North Carolina, will have a chance to show what he is made of. 

Shelton himself joined the Rams as a UDFA. As the team evaluates potential successors, you can bet that even unproven candidates will receive a fair trial. 

It's also possible that Shelton's heir isn't on the roster. A rookie in the 2027 draft class could contend for snaps. More realistically, the Rams could replace Shelton with a free agent signing, preferably someone a bit younger and bigger.

Don't expect Shelton to be a priority signing next winter like Dotson and Avila at guard or McClendon at tackle. All three earned top 10 Pro Football Focus grades at their positions in 2025. Shelton finished in the top third as well, but PFF graded him harshly in pass blocking, ranking Shelton 36th out of 40 qualified centers.

While another short-term deal isn't out of the question, the writing is likely on the wall for Shelton's future in Los Angeles. He is, ahem, the black sheep of the Rams' current group. Even assuming he keeps his job in camp, internal competition will be nipping at his heels. 

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