Should Rams trade a guard before the draft?

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 08: Matthew Stafford #9 , Kevin Dotson #69 and Steve Avila #73 of the Los Angeles Rams take the field before a game against the Buffalo Bills at SoFi Stadium on December 08, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty Images Going into the week of the 2026 NFL Draft, a lot of good teams have a bad need at guard, which is why so many of them could be drafting offensive line help on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. However, one of several problems with drafting a guard to start in 2026 is that many of these prospects are not even guards yet.

Some of the top prospects, like Alabama tackle Kadyn Proctor for example, will need to be moved and taught and start their careers all over again, in a way. Conversely, the Rams are in the rare position of not only having two starting guards that they like but also in the difficult position of deciding whether or not they can pay both Steve Avila and Kevin Dotson before they become free agents in 2027. This is why L.

A. could consider a guard like Vega Ioane with the 13th overall pick, if not trading down or trading up from the second round to secure a different interior offensive lineman like Chase Bisontis or Keylan Rutledge. Their situation at guard, combined with the weakness of other teams, begs for us to ask the question: Could the Rams just not reset the clock at guard now by trading either Avila or Dotson for picks that help Les Snead secure his replacement now , not later?

If the Rams do not intend to extend both guards, maybe they should trade one. How good of a haul could they get now? Teams that need guards in 2026 Guard is cited as the biggest need for the Ravens by many, including USA Today : The free agent loss of center Tyler Linderbaum has a ripple effect across Baltimore’s offensive line, especially in the interior.