The offensive line has become a focal point for Sean McVay and Les Snead in the last two years. The Los Angeles Rams selected Steve Avila 36th overall in 2023, traded for Kevin Dotson before Week 1 and then proceeded to sign Jonah Jackson to a free-agent contract this March.
Those moves have made the Rams’ offensive line one of the best in football on paper and McVay can’t wait to see it come to fruition on the field this September. With Jackson, Avila and Dotson on the interior, and Alaric Jackson and Rob Havenstein at the tackle spots, the Rams boast one of the biggest and most powerful units in the league.
Pro Football Focus doesn’t see the Rams’ O-line as a premier group, however. PFF’s Zoltan Buday ranked every offensive line heading into the 2024 season and the Rams barely cracked the top half. They were slotted at No. 16, a ranking that feels far too low given the group’s potential when healthy.
The Rams’ shrewd trade acquisition of Kevin Dotson ahead of the 2023 campaign paid massive dividends. He put together a breakout season, finishing with the second-highest PFF grade among guards and earning himself a new contract with the Rams.
Los Angeles will hope Jonah Jackson, who the team signed in free agency, will yield similar results, as they are expected to be once again among the better run-blocking units in the NFL.
There are some questions about Alaric Jackson’s pass blocking, Jonah Jackson’s durability, Avila’s transition to center and Dotson’s ability to have sustained success after one standout season, but those aren’t major concerns. Alaric Jackson should get better in his second full season as a left tackle, Jonah Jackson has played 57 games in four seasons, Avila played center in college and Dotson excelled in the Rams’ gap blocking scheme.
At right tackle, Havenstein is extremely reliable and one of the best players at his position. He’s great as a run blocker and in pass protection, raising no concerns about blocking opposing pass rushers on the right side.
When the season ends in January, no one should be surprised when the Rams are heralded as having one of the best offensive lines in the league. The front office made a concerted effort to shore up the protection last season and it’s only going to get better in 2024.