'Wasn't Part of the Plan!' Los Angeles Rams' McVay Explains Steve Avila Move to Center

The Los Angeles Rams shocked the NFL when they signed left guard Jonah Jackson. How did that move, and the corresponding position change, come together?

Jul 26, 2023; Irvine, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams guard Steve Avila (73) wears a Guardian helmet cap / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Through the emergence of rookie left guard Steve Avila and the breakout of right guard Kevin Dotson, the Los Angeles Rams saw their offensive line exceed every expectation. 

Through the musical chairs of training camp and injuries at tackle during the regular season, Los Angeles was able to trust its trenches to keep quarterback Matthew Stafford upright and open rushing lanes for running back Kyren Williams.

At the season’s end, though, both center Coleman Shelton and Dotson looked destined to the open market. With a hefty price tag presumed to be attached to the latter, most assumed the best-case scenario would be managing to return the same unit, if not downgrading with cheaper alternatives.

Jul 26, 2023; Irvine, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams guard Steve Avila (73) wears a Guardian helmet cap / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Instead, the Rams made it a point to further fortify their offensive line, signing high-profile left guard Jonah Jackson and re-signing Dotson to a three-year, $48 million deal.

Jackson, who put pen to paper on a three-year, $51 million contract, effectively replaced Avila at left guard. With his starting job gone – despite a strong rookie season – and a hole at center, it quickly became clear that Avila would slide further inside, even if the move wasn’t on Los Angeles’ radar entering the offseason.

Head coach Sean McVay elaborated on how the logjam at left guard came to be.

“Hey, Kevin’s at right guard, Jonah played left guard, and oh by the way, this stud rookie left guard that you had, he was an excellent center at TCU,” McVay told Stu Jackson. “And when you want to try to be able to improve and push the envelope with the interior parts of the offensive line, it really wasn’t part of the plan until you realize, wow, we might be able to get Jonah Jackson.

“And if we did that, even went back and started watching – and this all came together at the last minute – TCU, and you say, you know what, he did a great job at center, there’s a lot of work.”

Shelton was about league-average as a starter last season, boasting the 16th-best offense grade from Pro Football Focus among 32 qualified centers. Avila, while posting an average-starter-level season in his own right, may find additional comfort at his previous position. While a lack of continuity generally isn’t great for young lineman, his experience and returning at least two other starters (Dotson and right tackle Rob Havenstein) should be helpful.

Los Angeles may not have planned to bring in Jackson and invest as much as it has into the offensive line, but being aggressive is where general manager Les Snead is comfortable. In signing a proficient lineman few had pegged for the Rams, they’ve brought themselves one upgrade closer to a deep playoff run.