Jim Everett believes the Los Angeles Rams may draft an offensive lineman with their 13th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft due to the impending free agency of four current starters. He suggests that selecting a tackle could provide crucial depth and protection for the team.
Heading into the 2026 NFL Draft, everything seems to be pointing toward the Los Angeles Rams taking a wide receiver with their first pick. That’s logical considering the lack of depth behind Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, but it’s certainly not a must-draft position in Round 1.
Former Rams quarterback Jim Everett has another spot in mind for the Rams at No. 13 overall: offensive line.
In an interview with Action Network, Everett pointed out that four of the Rams’ five offensive linemen are only under contract through the 2026 season. Coleman Shelton, Steve Avila, Kevin Dotson and Warren McClendon Jr. are all set to be free agents in 2027 if they don’t re-sign with the Rams beforehand, which is a slight problem for Los Angeles.
For that reason, he could “easily see” the Rams using their top pick on an offensive lineman, specifically a tackle who can provide some insurance behind Alaric Jackson and McClendon.
“Four of the five Rams’ offensive linemen are in the final year of their contract,” Everett said. “You can't negotiate with every single one of them, and you have no leverage if you don't have anybody that could possibly take their spot. A general manager is a general manager, not just this year, but hopefully for years. And so job security would mean I need to find somebody that I could put leverage on my right tackle, because I don't want to pay my right tackle $25 million next year.
“A rookie allows you to pay him a lot less for the first four, possibly five years, depending on options. So I think offensive lineman make fiscal sense. It makes sense as far as being in development. And then maybe if you get a guy like the Utah kid (Spencer) Fano, maybe he plays guard for a minute, right? He learns the system before he moves out. So I can easily see an offensive lineman there.”
The Rams should feel good about their starting offensive line right now, but it’s hardly solidified for the future. Though the Rams are unlikely to let all four players leave in 2027 once their contracts expire, it’ll also be difficult to re-sign each one of them.
By drafting a rookie lineman, the Rams will give themselves some leverage along the line when it comes to contract negotiations, as well as a fallback plan in case someone inevitably gets injured.
Why does Jim Everett think the Rams should draft an offensive lineman at 13?
Jim Everett believes the Rams should draft an offensive lineman because four of their five current starters will be free agents after the 2026 season, creating a need for depth.
Who are the Rams' offensive linemen that will be free agents in 2027?
The Rams' offensive linemen set to be free agents in 2027 include Coleman Shelton, Steve Avila, Kevin Dotson, and Warren McClendon Jr.
What position does Jim Everett suggest the Rams draft to support their offensive line?
Jim Everett suggests that the Rams should draft a tackle to provide insurance and depth behind Alaric Jackson and McClendon.
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