Training camp for the Los Angeles Rams is set for July 25 at Loyola-Marymount University and due to recent happenings, the offensive line is under the microscope. The big guys are no longer toiling in anonymity, they will work under the bright lights.
The news of of Alaric Jackson shenanigans with the opposite sex have been the main focus and Rams fans eagerly await the adjudication of his future by the NFL. These headlines have dwarfed two other big stories, the Rams lack of depth on the offensive
line and the post-2026 contract status of four starters.
The news is not all bad. The pavers of the NFL’s #1 scoring offense are back intact, including the primary backups. Sharp Football analysis, Pro Football Network, and FTN Fantasy have all come out with projections that have the Rams offensive line as a Top 5 unit for 2026.
L.A. currently has 14 offensive linemen on the pre-training camp roster. The snap status from 2025 its in parentheses.
Starters
Alaric Jackson (1051)
While some of his off-field decisions leave something to be desired, Jackson has been a solid investment at left tackle for the Rams. He was a standout college football player, starting every game he played, 42 of 42 at left tackle. Even though he had earned accolades, he went undrafted in 2021. L.A. looked at Jackson at guard and as swing tackle depth in his first two seasons. But because Joe Noteboom, the heir apparent to Andrew Whitworth struggled with injuries and inconsistency, Jackson won the blind side role in 2023 and did not look back. He has been a pivotal piece in the Rams success. Although he’s fought his own health problems, two separate bouts with blood clots, he’s worked hard to re-mold his body through weight room work, diet, and yoga.
Steve Avila (836)
Paired with Kevin Dotson, Avila gives the Rams a stellar pair of inside strongmen. It affords the Rams to keep a calming and cerebral center. In the final season of his rookie contract and although a move to center, his college position, didn’t work out, Avila has shown improved technique to go with his mauler play style. Keeping the former Round 2 draftee healthy has been a problem over the last two years, he’s missed 13 starts and parts of two other games. He needs a solid season to impress the Rams into a big raise.
Coleman Shelton (1120)
Although written off by fans as replaceable every season, there is no reason to think Shelton’s on the chopping block, even with his turning 31 years of age and contract expiring at the end of 2026. The L.A. braintrust loves his understanding of opposing defensive looks and command of the blocking calls. Tough and durable, he begins 2026 having started 60 straight games and playing in 96+ percent of snaps in that run. Shelton makes up for a lack of power and anchor with consistently solid technique and football IQ. Squares up with good posture and a wide base, lands his punches first, and mirrors opponents.
Kevin Dotson (886)
Since coming to L.A. right before the start of the 2023 season, Dotson has stepped up and become, arguably, the Rams best offensive lineman. He fits like a glove into the Rams blocking scheme. The only negative is that he’ll be a free agent after 2026 and be due a fat contract, likely over $20mil per season. He does turn 30 this season and while that is certainly not old by offensive lineman standards, he did miss two games and parts of four others last year. Should that make the Rams or other teams wary of a long-term deal?
Warren McClendon (667)
Expectations are high for the Rams 2023 Round 5 pick. Obviously the biggest year of McClendon’s young career. A strong performance to show he’s ready for big raise? Or struggles and the risk of becoming an afterthought? He’s already at the end of his rookie contract and becomes a free agent after this season. Having Rob Havenstein allowed the Rams to slowly develop McClendon until ready to replace the long-time veteran when Hav had reached the point of no return. After not playing much as a rookie (26 reps), he bumped to five starts at right tackle in 2024 and last year started in Weeks 5, 6, and 7 before taking over for good in Week 12.
Backups
Justin Dedich (496)
Efficient is the best descriptor for Dedich. Although undrafted in 2024 and under-sized at 6’2” 300 lbs. and 32” arms, he’s nonetheless been the Rams primary interior backup in both of his pro seasons. It hasn’t been an easy path, he was released in final cuts of his maiden season, but came back to get three starts. Overall, he’s seen 702 offensive snaps over 29 games and nine starts, so there’s plenty of pro game film to assess his work. Dedich wins with nimble footwork, stellar contact balance, and the ability to stick to defenders. Best suited to a move blocking scheme, he’s comfortable and fluid getting out on screens and outside zone runs. In the Rams predominantly inside/mid zone and duo run game, Dedich employs nimble footwork, low leverage and solid technique to be relevant. Very good at double teams and picking stunts and blitzes. His size makes him exploitable to the bullrush and he’s not an outstanding 1on1 drive blocker, but the Rams braintrust appreciates his toughness and consistency.
Beaux Limmer (55)
Forced into a starting role in 2024 when the Rams Plans A and B at center disintegrated. He started Weeks 2 through 9 in Jonah Jackson’s stead, and when Jackson stumbled upon his return, Limmer was re-introduced for Week 11 and on through the playoffs.He certainly had his hands full, particularly with communications, but also had overall solid rookie season. He allowed two sacks and Pro Football Focus gave him a 97.4 blocking efficiency grade. His playoff effort was tarnished by miscommunication, that tarnished a 400 yard offensive effort in the playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. In 2025, he was a backup, but received 44 snaps at both guard spots in Week 1 due to injury. I re-watched the game and he only had two losing plays, both ending with Matthew Stafford taking big hits. There is no other conclusion but to think he got into Sean McVay’s doghouse, Limmer only played 11 offensive and 20 special teams snaps the rest of the season.
David Quessenberry (18)
At the age of 36, Quessenberry enters his second year with the Rams. Including his two seasons with the Vikings, he should have a grasp on the basics of the L.A. offense and blocking schemes. He’s been a backup and spot starter for the bulk of his career, 30 starts in 97 games. 17 of those starts came in his lone season getting first team reps back in 2021 and his his snap counts have been trending down since. I have been looking at a lot of his past games. He’s above average as a run blocker, decent feet, stays low, and keeps contact and legs moving. As a pass blocker, there’s a lot to be desired, he’s more of a catcher than attacker, he drops backwards and doesn’t have the consistent lower body strength to set a solid anchor. Appears to have balance issues, causing problems when rushers counter inside. He has good length at over 34” arms, just doesn’t employ it enough as a strength. When he extends his arms and latches on, he can control opponents. Another caveat is he’s been almost exclusively used at right tackle, so calling him a swing tackle is an overstatement. The line between right and left tackle has become less relevant in today’s NFL, but protecting the quarterback’s blind side calls for a player that’s biggest strength is pass protection.
Keagen Trost (R)
L.A.’s Round 3 draft pick. Trost has great film vs top opponents and was named to two All-American teams at Mizzou. Many scouts and draft pundits pegged him to play guard in the NFL because of his relatively short arms (32 3/8”). Trost has very powerful upper body with stellar grip strength. Squares up well to throw solid punches does a good job of keeping his hands inside. He doesn’t always extend and latch on, often uses his arms to stand up opponents as they charge and lets them inside delivering a helmet/head butt to their chin. Quick get-off to run block and into pass sets. He’ll have to clean up up some minor issues, but shows the requisite footwork for reach and seal blocks. Not an elite mover, but sneakily athletic. In Mizzou’s zone run game, he smoothly gets to second level, out on pulls, and in front of screens smoothly, Good striker in space. Plays through the whistle and often drives his foes 10 yards backwards when he gets locked on. Not sure if the Rams drafted him for a future tackle or guard role, either way he should be a mauler in the run game and has the tools to become a solid pass blocker.
Sleepers
Dylan McMahon (PS)
Difficult to project what the Rams want to do with McMahon. In 2024, the Rams poached him of the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad and kept him on the active roster for the duration of the year. He’s only played in one L.A., as a starter in the 2024 regular season finale. Although a one-off, it was an uneven performance, showing what he does well and where he lacks. He’s a movement prospect and lacks power. McMahon came into the league a shade under 300 lbs and vs. Seattle, he showed he could get to the second level with ease, but had some trouble with a stronger player lined up on his nose. He’s smart and has pretty good technique, in a similar vein as Coleman Shelton, but hasn’t broken through as a contributor.
Wyatt Bowles (PS)
A very interesting study. Bowles was arguably the Rams best offensive lineman in the 2025 preseason, performing at both center and guard. He didn’t give up a pass rush pressure and gave solid account of himself in the run game. The problem was, he couldn’t find a path to the opening roster. He toiled anonymously on the practice squad and was cut twice by the Rams, the first being in early November for long snapper Jake McQuaide and after being re-signed, he was cut making room for Josh Karty moving down to the practice squad. The Arizona Cardinals snapped up Bowles for their practice squad and let him go after the season. L.A. brought him back into the fold on a January futures contract. He’s a grinder and won’t give up, it took him five college seasons before becoming a starter and he gave up only two sacks in two years on a team that aired it out 832 times.
Long shots
AJ Arcuri (PS)
Although Arcuri has the requisite mass and length, he enters his fifth year in L.A. without much distinction in his play. The Rams obviously think well of him to keep around, but he’s been primarily a practice squad player. Over his tenure, he’s played in 10 games with one start and logged 121 offensive reps. I rewatched that starting game from 2022 and saw a rather heavy-footed blocker who could be beaten by both by outside speed and cross over moves inside. His run blocking was more screening off rather than driving. I think it would hard to make a case for Arcuri suddenly turning the the corner and competing for a major role.
Austin Blaske (R)
Blaske is another youngster that I’m interested to follow and see how he pans out. 6’5” 311 lbs. with 33” arms is requisite NFL size and length. He also fits the NFL athletic parameters for all spots on the offensive line. RAS scored him at 8.59. Blake offers positional versatility. Groomed at all line roles in college, first by Georgia and then with North Carolina. Very good film as a center. Needs polish but has the chops to build on. Strong lower half and squares up well. He was a top wrestler in high school and you can see his balance and reactive feet. Fun fact: Blaske was the staring center at North Carolina next to last year’s Rams camp darling, Willie Lampkin.
Bryce Henderson (R)
At 6’8” 330 lbs, with 35” arms and an 84” wingspan, Henderson possesses NFL size and length. Will likely need much more seasoning and technique work before being ready for the pro game. Played in college-centric offense where he rotated between left and right tackle, interestingly from snap to snap during games. Needs some polish on striking inside of opponents, but when lands, he takes defenders where he wants to go. Good drive on down blocks and hustles to the second level. Inconsistent on get off and is more of a catcher than deliverer when it comes to pass blocking. Movement skills are in tune with playing on the right side. The learning curve will be steep for Henderson to step in as a rookie.
Already gone
Chad Lindberg (R)
The undrafted rookie out of North Carolina was injured early in OTAs and recently waived with an injury settlement.
What to watch for in 2026
All eyes on how the NFL handles the Alaric Jackson situation. If, as expected, he is suspended, the starting five does not return intact and that holding pattern could be anywhere from two to six games. On the short side, say two games, the Rams could easily fill in and scheme around any weakness. The multiple tight end formations will help and recent Rams history shows that it’s not out of the ordinary for offensive linemen to miss a couple of games and the offense still hums along. A longer abeyance and covering exploitable weaknesses is magnified, expanding the possibility of needing to bring in outside help.
Of the four other starting spots, I would expect strong efforts from Avila, Shelton, Dotson, and McClendon. They are all in the final year of their contracts and looking forward to raises, some substantial. While I can’t cite any numbers to support it, my memory tells me that many players in the “final year of contract” situation step up and play well.
The backups may end up being the story as the season unfolds. The Rams look solid on the interior with Justin Dedich and Beaux Limmer, but still quite thin on the bookends. Undrafted Bryce Henderson is the only tackle with recent action on the left side. Keagan Trost looks promising, but hasn’t really played on the left side since since 2022 at Indians State. I couldn’t find any film of David Quessenbery playing on the left side going back to 2021.
I’ll be rooting for Wyatt Bowles and looking for him to improve and dominate in preseason games. He’’ll need to for a chance at making the roster, it will be tough sledding. He fits the Rams mold at the interior position, nimble feet, tough and mauling.
Shrewd moves have taken the disaster of 2022 and turned it into a team strength. The chances of a re-build in 2026 are high, fans need to enjoy what may be the final ride with this group of starters. Hopefully a deep run into the playoffs.
