The Los Angeles Rams were already working without a full deck heading into their Week 1 matchup against Jared Goff’s Detroit Lions. All teams deal with injuries, but rarely does one start their season as hobbled as the Rams’ offensive line is.
In addition to Rob Havenstein and Kevin Dotson, who are day-to-day, Joe Noteboom is out for at least a few weeks due to a high ankle sprain. Now, Steve Avila is dealing with a sprained MCL and will miss anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks. To combat this, the Rams have signed Dylan McMahon off the Eagles’ practice squad. McMahon will join the active roster, but the rookie sixth-round pick has zero snaps of NFL experience.
One week after losing a close, hard-fought battle to the Lions, the Rams could enter Week 2 without any of their starting offensive linemen. While some could return in time for Sunday, others, like Avila, will be out for several weeks. Below, we look at four offensive line solutions for a Rams team that suddenly needs more depth.
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Sign Matthew Stafford’s former teammate Halapoulivaati Vaitai
Injuries limited Halapoulivaati Vaitai to just three starts and six games in 2023. But when the former Eagles and Lions lineman played, he performed well. Pro Football Focus gave Vaitai a 68.3 grade, which ranked 19th best among all guards.
Considering he’s just waiting for a contract in free agency, reuniting Vaitai with his former teammate Matthew Stafford is worth the risk. Vaitai has made 48 starts and 86 appearances since 2016, and the 31-year-old could likely help the Rams in a pinch at guard or tackle.
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Take a chance on La’el Collins
La’el Collins didn’t play at all last season. But when the former Cowboys and Lions lineman is healthy, he’s been a constant starter. The 31-year-old has started 86 of the 89 games he’s been available for but is somehow still a free agent after being let go by the Bills during final roster cuts.
Collins graded poorly the last time he played (57.9), but in 2021, he was elite with an 82 grade per PFF. If the Rams can tap back into his ceiling, the former undrafted pro could be a hidden gem waiting in free agency.
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Add two-time Super Bowl champ Donovan Smith
Another option is signing two-time Super Bowl champion Donovan Smith. Not only does he have two rings, he was the starting left tackle during both seasons, blocking for Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes. He’s started all 136 games in his career.
While Smith is available, he’s graded poorly in the past two seasons, as the 87th-best tackle in 2023 and the 97th-best in 2022. Perhaps that’s why he’s still unsigned in free agency, but he’d bring a lot of experience to the tackle position.
Related: Matthew Stafford Not Surprised By Dominant Offensive Effort Vs. Lions
Sign former All-Pro David Bakhtiari
David Bakhtiari is now 32 years old, which is… advanced. But that’s not too old to be a very good offensive lineman. Trent Williams is 36 and he’s still playing at an All-Pro level. While Bakhtiari is not Williams, who’s to say the two-time All-Pro doesn’t still have something special left in the tank?
Bakhtiari has only played in 13 games since the end of the 2020 season, his last time as an All-Pro. But what do the Rams have to lose? At worst, they take a chance on a veteran who shows his best days are behind him. But at best, the Rams could stumble into having one of the NFL’s best linemen.
