April 15, 2026, 5:20 p.m. PT

Offensive line isn’t a clear need for the Los Angeles Rams, but there are some who believe the team should invest in the position at some point in the 2026 NFL draft to shore up one of the most important positions in the game.

While the Rams might not use their No. 13 overall pick on a lineman, there will be plenty of other opportunities to add depth throughout the draft. Whether or not they do remains to be seen, but The Athletic’s Scott Dochterman believes Iowa center Logan Jones would be a great fit for L.A. if they went in that direction.

Jones (6-3, 299) has the measurables that will give some teams pause, especially those who prefer mass and power at the point of attack. Plus, as a pure center, Jones has limited position flexibility. But what he does well, he does at a high level.

As a four-year starter at Iowa, Jones followed his predecessor, Tyler Linderbaum, in moving from defensive line and built a similarly sterling career as a first-team All-American. Jones, however, is faster than Linderbaum — his 4.90-second 40-yard dash was the seventh fastest ever recorded by a center at the combine, just behind Jason Kelce. Jones also holds Iowa’s squat record (705 pounds), and his 470-pound hang clean ranks second only to Tristan Wirfs’ 500-pound explosion.

That quickness and explosiveness come out on video in Iowa’s zone scheme, which is identical to the Rams’ style of play. Jones is cerebral and technically sound enough to start on day one for a Sean McVay-Kyle Shanahan style of play, without needing to put on more weight.

Current starting center Coleman Shelton is in the final year of his two-year deal, and while he was solid for L.A. in 2025, the team may want to find a long-term replacement at the position in the years to come. While he is a bit undersized, he has the experience and the collegiate pedigree that translate well at the next level.

Jones is expected to be in the third or fourth round, so he could be a target for L.A. with the No. 93 pick.

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