The Los Angeles Rams are picking at No. 13 in the draft, and they could use it on another offensive tackle even though Alaric Jackson is still the starting left tackle and the interior is settled with Steve Avila and Kevin Dotson. Warren McClendon stepped into a full-time role in 2025, but the Rams are still thinking bigger than this season.
That is the point of the pick. The Rams are not looking only for a short-term fix. They are trying to set up the offensive line for 2027 and beyond, and that matters because McClendon has only one full season as a starter, Avila is heading into the final year of his rookie deal in 2026 and Dotson’s contract is also nearing its end. Depth behind the starters is not viewed as a strength, so the front office may decide the safest move is to add another tackle now rather than wait for trouble later.
Ian Rapoport said that if one of this year’s top three prospects falls to 13, the Rams may not be able to pass on the chance, because the value would be too good at such an important spot. That is where Miami’s Francis Mauigoa, Utah’s Spencer Fano and Georgia’s Monroe Freeling come in. Mauigoa brings immediate power and size. Fano is known for versatility and reliability. Freeling stands out for an elite athletic profile. All three have been widely projected as first-round talents, and all three have come up in Rams pre-draft conversations.
The Rams’ offensive line looks settled on paper, which is exactly why this decision is tricky. There is no glaring hole to force the issue, but there is also little proven depth if the team waits too long. Taking a tackle at No. 13 would not just be about helping Jackson or protecting a quarterback in 2025. It could ripple into the way teams picking between 15 and 25 approach the rest of the first round.
For Los Angeles, this is less about urgency than timing. The next few seasons will decide whether the Rams keep the line stable or have to rebuild parts of it under pressure.
