The Los Angeles Rams have built one of the most formidable offensive lines in the NFL, but keeping that unit intact beyond the 2026 season is looking like a financial puzzle that might be too expensive to solve. With four of five starters set to hit free agency, General Manager Les Snead and Head Coach Sean McVay face some tough decisions ahead.
The Rams only drafted one offensive lineman in 2026—Keagan Trost in the third round—and that pick might signal just how uncertain the future is. Trost's versatility as a potential guard or tackle gives McVay flexibility, especially when you consider the looming contract extensions for the current starters. Simply put, fitting all four players under the salary cap will be a monumental challenge, no matter how much the Rams want to keep the band together.
Let's break down what each player might command on the open market.
Rob Havenstein's heir apparent? Not so fast.
Right tackle McClendon might not be a household name, but think of him like former 49ers right tackle Mike McGlinchey—a player who was consistently "fine" but still landed a four-year, $87.5 million deal with the Broncos. Starting right tackles are in high demand across the league, and if McClendon stays healthy and starts all 17 games next season, he'll be a hot commodity. Projected contract: 3 years, $54 million ($18 million per year)—and that might actually be underselling him.
Kevin Dotson: From afterthought to elite.
Dotson is already the seventh-highest paid right guard in the NFL at $16 million per season, but he's outperforming that contract. He's better than Carolina's Robert Hunt, who makes $20 million annually. When the Rams first extended Dotson, the reaction was more "hey, this guy the Steelers traded for nothing is pretty good." Now? He's established as one of the league's best guards, and at 29 years old this summer, he'll want to be paid like it. Projected contract: 3 years, $60 million ($20 million per year).
Steve Avila: Timing is everything.
Is Avila a great player? That's debatable. But in the NFL, timing often matters more than raw talent. If he hits free agency as a starting left guard, he'll have suitors lining up. To keep him off the market, the Rams will need to come with the cash. Projected contract: 4 years, $84 million ($21 million per year).
The bottom line? The Rams' offensive line has been a key to their success, but the salary cap doesn't reward sentimentality. Whether they can keep even two of these four starters remains to be seen—but one thing is certain: the cost of continuity is about to get very real.