Rams must fill a hole at center
With Blythe gone to Kansas City, Allen’s health will be key to the success of the offensive line.
As the Rams prepare for the NFL draft, The Times will examine their roster. Part 3 of 8: offensive line.
The tackles are veterans; the guards young but experienced.
Who will play center is the biggest question for coach Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead — and new offensive line coach Kevin Carberry — as the Rams prepare for the draft and the 2021 season.
The departure of Austin Blythe, who signed with Kansas City, leaves the Rams with a void as they begin a new era with quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Brian Allen, who started nine games in 2019, is the most likely candidate, though the fourth-year pro has been sidelined for most of the last two seasons because of a knee injury.
“The key that what we don’t necessarily know with Brian is, how will he play, how will he play post-injury?” Snead told reporters in March. “That was a pretty serious injury that he has gone through, and he’s done a heck of a job rehabbing it.
“That’s always going to be something he’s got to do.”
Coleman Shelton, an undrafted free-agent center who signed with the Rams in 2019, also will compete for the role. The Rams do not have a first-round draft pick, but they could select a center in the later rounds.
Left tackle Andrew Whitworth is back for a 16th NFL season. Right tackle Rob Havenstein enters his seventh season.
Joe Noteboom started at left guard before filling in at tackle after Whitworth injured a knee last year. Austin Corbett is the right guard.
Both are fourth-year pros.
Bobby Evans and David Edwards have starting experience at tackle and guard, respectively, and secondyear pro Tremayne Anchrum appears ready to step into a role.
Under contract for 2021: Havenstein ($8.3 million), Whitworth ($5.7 million), Corbett ($1.5 million), Noteboom ($1.1 million), Allen ($1.1 million), Evans ($1.1 million), Edwards ($916,000), Shelton ($850,000), Jamil Demby ($850,000), Anchrum ($799,000), Chandler Brewer ($780,000).
Free agents: Blythe signed a one-year contract with the Chiefs that reportedly includes $990,000 in guarantees.
Draft: Noteboom, a third-round pick in 2018, was supposed to be Whitworth’s heir apparent at left tackle. Noteboom has performed adequately at tackle and guard, but the Rams remain in search of a player to lock down that spot.
Roster decisions: Whitworth, 39, could be in the last year of his career. Corbett, Noteboom and Allen are due to become unrestricted free agents after this season.
NEXT: defensive line.