3 takeaways from Rams addressing OL with Keagen Trost

With the 93rd pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Rams selected Missouri's Keagan Trost. An offensive tackle, Trost fills a critical need for the team, while also providing position flexibility.

Here are three observations from the selection.

The Rams have a swing tackle for now

With Warren McClendon Jr. inheriting Rob Havenstein's role as a starter, the team needed someone to replace McClendon's old job as a backup swing tackle. The Rams likely won't re-sign D.J. Humphries, and David Quessenberry is more of a body than an instant backup. Trost brings needed depth at a position that's difficult to resupply during the season.

Warren McClendon Jr. has one year to prove himself

McClendon is entering a contract year and has never been the Rams' full-time starting tackle. The Rams love McClendon and I do not see this being a move to replace him. However, the Rams have tough financial decisions to make regarding their stellar 2023 draft class. They can not commit big-time money to players who won't produce, so before McClendon can see the cash, he likely has 17 games to prove his worth.

The Rams are not ready to say goodbye to their interior offensive line

While the Rams are likely to lose either Kevin Dotson, Steve Avila, or next offseason, they haven't decided who will get the boot. Trost is able to play all five positions, and while he solves an immediate need as depth, the fact that the Rams did not select a pure interior lineman means they're evaluating every player moving forward.