As the Rams gear up for the 2025 NFL season, fresh off an NFC West title and a disappointing playoff loss to the Eagles, the team is well-positioned to remain competitive in the NFC West. With head coach McVay, quarterback Matthew Stafford, and the signing of Devante Adams, the offense appears to be solid. However, one critical concern overshadows their prospects: the health of their offensive line. Despite re-signing left tackle Alaric Jackson and bringing back Coleman Shelton, the unit’s injury history, limited depth, and the physical toll of the position make its health the Rams’ most pressing issue. Many of us were hoping the Rams addressed the offensive line in the 2025 NFL draft. Instead, the Rams traded out of the first round and selected Oregon tight end Terrance Ferguson with the 46th pick..
Let’s dive into the Rams’ offensive line, analyzing past performance, current challenges, and the team’s efforts to address the issue.
A Persistent Injury Problem
The Rams’ offensive line has been plagued by injuries in recent seasons, disrupting continuity and impacting performance. In 2024, the Rams played just 23.2% of their offensive snaps with their starting five—Alaric Jackson (left tackle), Steve Avila (left guard), Beaux Limmer (center), Kevin Dotson (right guard), and Rob Havenstein (right tackle). Key linemen, including Jackson, Jonah Jackson (traded), and Havenstein, missed time due to injuries or suspensions, contributing to a 1-4 start. The 2023 season saw similar struggles, with Havenstein, Joe Noteboom (now with the Ravens), and Alaric Jackson sidelined, leading to a 3-6 start. The 2022 season was the low point, with a franchise-record number of offensive line injuries resulting in a 5-12 record and a missed postseason.
This recurring issue underscores a harsh reality: the Rams’ offensive line struggles to stay healthy, and injuries derail the entire offense. As Sean McVay has acknowledged, “The easy answer is to complain about the injuries that threw off the continuity… but you can’t allow that to inhibit us the way that it did.” With Super Bowl aspirations in 2025, ensuring the line’s health is critical.
Why the Offensive Line Is Critical
The offensive line is the foundation of the Rams’ offense, particularly in Sean McVay’s scheme, which relies on a strong running game, timing routes, and play-action passing. When healthy, the 2024 unit was a top-10 run-blocking group, with a 32.2% pressure rate (10th in the NFL) and a 5.3% sack rate (fifth). Protecting Stafford, a 37-year-old quarterback with an injury history, and creating lanes for running back Kyren Williams are paramount. With the Rams’ receiving corps of Puka Nacua, Devante Adams, Jordan Whittington, and Tutu Atwell, it is paramount for the Rams to have a solid offensive line.
In 2024, early-season injuries led to a 15th-ranked offense in passing and rushing Expected Points Added (EPA). Without a stable line, Stafford faces increased pressure, and the run game falters, making the offense predictable. This vulnerability was evident in 2024 against playoff-caliber teams, where the Rams’ pass-blocking struggled, with seven regular-season games graded D+ or worse.
The line’s health also affects playoff positioning. Slow starts in 2023 and 2024 due to injuries cost the Rams higher seeds and tougher matchups. In 2025, with a competitive NFC West and a challenging schedule, another injury-plagued season could jeopardize their postseason hopes.
Despite re-signing Alaric Jackson and adding limited new talent, the Rams’ offensive line faces ongoing challenges, particularly in depth and the aging of key starters.
Limited Depth
The Rams’ depth behind their starting five remains a concern. In 2024, backups Warren McClendon, Joe Noteboom, and AJ Arcuri struggled when pressed into action. McClendon allowed nine pressures in Weeks 1 and 2, including three sacks against Arizona. Noteboom, who gave up 15 pressures and two sacks in four appearances, was released as a free agent and has now signed with the Baltimore Ravens. Arcuri has been ineffective in limited snaps. UDFA rookies such as Trey Wedig and Willie Lampkin are unproven. Dylan McMahon, who was drafted by the Eagles in the 2024 NFL Draft and then signed to the Rams’ practice squad, is a complete unknown. Justin Dedich is listed as a center for the Rams, and with Shelton and Beaux Limmer as the Rams centers, I don’t see where he fits. KT Leveston, who had 13 starts at left tackle at Kansas State, appears to be the backup for Alaric Jackson.
The addition of Coleman Shelton, who is projected to be the Rams’ starting center, was a prudent move, but the lack of drafting a solid OT in the 2025 draft has left the team without a versatile swing tackle. NFL analyst Brandon Thorn has stressed that elite offensive lines are “six or seven players deep” to withstand injuries. The Rams’ current depth, relying on untested players like McClendon, Wedig, and McMahon, remains a weak point.
Aging Starters
Right tackle Rob Havenstein, a cornerstone of the line, will be 33 in May 2025 and is in the final year of his contract. While he remains reliable when healthy, his injury history—missing time in 2023 and 2024—and age raise concerns about his durability. Havenstein is a potential retirement candidate, and the Rams must prepare for his eventual replacement.
Alaric Jackson’s re-signing is a significant boost. The 26-year-old left tackle, who inked a three-year, $57 million deal, has been a steady performer when healthy, but his injury history is troubling. He missed time in 2022 due to blood clots, sat out two games in 2023, and faced a suspension in 2024. His health remains a question mark, especially given the physical demands of protecting Stafford’s blind side.
The Ripple Effect of Injuries
Injuries to the offensive line have far-reaching consequences. When backups play, Stafford faces increased pressure, leading to hurried throws, sacks, or turnovers. The run game also suffers, as backups struggle to create lanes for Kyren Williams, who ran for over 1,000 yards in 2024 despite a “down year.” A weakened line forces the offense into predictable passing situations, exposing Stafford to hits and limiting Williams’ explosiveness.
Injuries also strain the coaching staff. Offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur and offensive line coach Ryan Wendell have had to adjust schemes and shuffle players, disrupting chemistry. As McVay noted, injuries are no excuse, but they undeniably hinder execution, particularly against elite defenses.
The 2025 Draft and Offseason Moves
The Rams did not address their offensive line in this year’s draft. Yes, they have added a few UDFA’s, but I don’t foresee any of these players making an impact.
The UDFA’s are:
- Indiana OL Trey Wedig
- Utah State OL Wyatt Bowles
- Boise State OL Ben Dooley
- North Carolina OL Willie Lampkin
While Trey Wedig and Willie Lampkin have potential, Lampkin is severely undersized (5’10”, 280lbs), and Wedig at 6’7″ and 319 lbs is seen as strictly a developmental OT. Ben Dooley and Wyatt Bowles appear to be camp bodies or, at best, practice squad candidates.
The re-signing of Alaric Jackson ensures continuity at left tackle, preserving the starting five’s chemistry. However, other than the signing of Coleman Shelton, the Rams did not pursue high-profile free agents due to cap constraints, instead relying on UDFA’s and internal development to bolster depth. The release of Noteboom and the decision not to re-sign other veterans like Tremayne Anchrum Jr. reflect a focus on youth.
To mitigate offensive line injuries in 2025, the Rams must continue to address the issue proactively. Here are key strategies:
Injury Prevention
The Rams’ training staff should prioritize conditioning programs to reduce soft-tissue injuries and manage the workload of veterans like Havenstein and Jackson. The decision to limit Jonah Jackson’s OTAs in 2024 to ensure his health for camp is a model to follow. Regular monitoring of Jackson’s recovery from past ailments and Havenstein’s durability will be crucial.
Scheme Adjustments
McVay and LaFleur can protect the line by emphasizing quick passes, screens, and play-action to reduce Stafford’s time holding the ball. The Rams’ third-ranked time to throw (2.66 seconds) in 2024 helped mask pass-blocking issues. Using more 12-personnel packages with Tyler Higbee, Terrance Ferguson, and Davis Allen could certainly relieve some of the pressure on Stafford.
The Stakes for 2025
With Matthew Stafford’s championship window narrowing at age 37, the Rams’ offensive line health is make-or-break. A healthy line could elevate the unit to top-10 status, allowing the Rams to compete with NFC elites like the Eagles or Lions. Conversely, injuries could expose Stafford to pressure, stall the run game, and force another slow start, jeopardizing playoff seeding.
The re-signing of Alaric Jackson and the addition of Coleman Shelton are steps in the right direction, but the Rams’ depth remains untested, and Havenstein’s age looms large.
Final Thoughts
The Los Angeles Rams’ biggest concern for the 2025 season remains the health of their offensive line, despite re-signing Alaric Jackson and bringing back Shelton. The unit’s injury history, thin depth, and reliance on an aging Rob Havenstein pose significant risks to the team’s Super Bowl hopes. The starting five—Jackson, Avila, Limmer (or Shelton), Dotson, and Havenstein—can be a strength when healthy, but the Rams’ unproven backups and past struggles demand vigilance.
With Stafford’s career winding down, the offensive line’s health will determine whether the Rams can capitalize on their talented roster and make a deep playoff run in 2025. The margin for error is slim, but with the right moves, the Rams can protect their quarterback and keep their Super Bowl dreams alive.
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