One of the Los Angeles Rams’ signings at the start of free agency was bringing back a familiar face in center Coleman Shelton, who was with the team from 2019-23 before spending last season with the Chicago Bears.
The Rams gave Shelton a two-year deal worth $12 million, including $6 million fully guaranteed, which is starting-caliber money for an NFL center.
That led many to question the Rams’ plan at the position as Beaux Limmer is coming off a solid rookie season. The 2024 sixth round draft pick was not expected to have a big role but was forced into action early in the year due to injuries and made the most of his opportunities to keep the starting job.
It appears the Rams still feel Limmer can use some time to develop though as general manager Les Snead confirmed at the annual league meetings that Shelton was brought back with the intention to be L.A.’s starting center, via Stu Jackson of TheRams.com:
“What we missed with Coleman when he left was that able to communicate to all of our young OL, and maybe even our veterans,” Snead said. “Hey, maybe (in) an audible situation, maybe when things change, and being able to handle that in the moment, it was very vital. Beaux Limmer did an unbelievable job evolving into becoming the starting center, but I’ve often said he was a freshman and working amongst a bunch of PHD’s. So there was an element where you missed, not necessarily in what he was doing, but in what the center does for other people.”
Shelton already has a rapport with Matthew Stafford and a lot of the other Rams’ offensive linemen, so there shouldn’t be much of a learning curve there for him.
While he struggled in his lone season in Chicago, Shelton has had success for the Rams in the past and as Snead alluded to, communication is important at the center position. Shelton should be better than Limmer in that regard, although if the former falters there’s no doubt the latter will be ready to step into a starting role, which is a good problem for the Rams to have heading into the 2025 season.
Rams right tackle Rob Havenstein underwent offseason shoulder surgery
Another veteran on the Rams’ offensive line and the longest tenured player in the organization is right tackle Rob Havenstein. He dealt with a shoulder injury last year and Sean McVay revealed Havenstein required offseason surgery, although he is expected to be ready for training camp.
