Does a guard make sense with the 13th overall pick?

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 4: Olaivavega Ioane #71 of the Penn State Nittany Lions blocks during the second half against UCLA Bruins at Rose Bowl Stadium on October 4, 2025 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Los Angeles Rams are in a bit of a difficult spot when it comes to the offensive line heading into the 2026 NFL Draft. While they have all five starters solidified, four of the five starters are on the final years of their contracts.

In the case of Warren McClendon, the Rams will almost certainly be looking to extend him if he performs well again. Coleman Shelton may not be among the best centers in the NFL, but the Rams could certainly do worse. At guard is where things really get complicated.

When it comes to Steve Avila and Kevin Dotson, the Rams have more of a decision to make. They likely are only able to bring back one of them, and if they have to choose, Dotson is probably the one that they would sign to an extension. The Rams have good depth with Justin Dedich, but it’s hard to see him starting over the course of a 17-game season.

Given the contract situations of Avila and Dotson, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Rams take a guard in the 2026 NFL Draft. The question here becomes when they decide to take a player at that position. With the Rams running more duo concepts in recent years, we’ve seen how much good guard play can catapult the run game.