The good news for the Los Angeles Rams is that quarterback Matthew Stafford will return in 2026, as will their chances at a Super Bowl title. The bad news is that the Seattle Seahawks will, too.

As close as the Rams came to toppling the Seahawks, getting to the finish line in 2026 will take an offseason’s worth of improvements and some better luck on two-point conversions to boot.

With Seattle’s pass rush wreaking havoc on vulnerable offensive lines, Los Angeles cannot afford a disadvantage in the trenches. That makes right tackle Rob Havenstein’s retirement all the more important. The stalwart played in just seven games, and Warren McClendon Jr. performed admirably in his place. Even so, the Rams must consider spending a first-round pick at offensive tackle in April.

Potential first-round replacements for Rob Havenstein

Spencer Fano, Utah

If we assume that Miami Hurricanes star Francis Mauigoa is off the board by the 13th pick, Utah Utes right tackle Spencer Fano is a strong candidate to be the top lineman available.

Fano entered the year with top-10 hype as the headliner on an elite offensive line. He took a slight step back in 2025 but still has an elite set of meaurables and athletic tools. Fano is explosive and versatile in the run game with flashes of high-level hand usage and recoveries as a pass protector. A right tackle by trade, he figures to be in the conversation for Los Angeles’s first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Monroe Freeling, Georgia

Monroe Freeling, meanwhile, isn’t a finished product, and there’s extra projection in his profile if the Rams plan on pushing him back to right tackle. Freeling is a work-in-progress as a run blocker and may be asked to redshirt as a rookie.

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However, Freeling is a strong athlete with special tools in pass protection. That combination has the arrow pointed skyward as he prepares for the NFL Scouting Combine, and there’s a world in which he is one of the first three linemen off the board. A Freeling selection would be a referendum on the Rams’ ability to develop linemen, but he carries as much upside as any lineman in this class.

Blake Miller, Clemson

A more natural fit at right tackle is Clemson Tigers senior Blake Miller, who has spent his entire career there, save for about 100 snaps in 2024. Miller is a four-year starter and has spent three years as a high-level contributor for Clemson. He also has a track record of success against the best teams on his schedule, including promising showings against SEC competition.

Miller’s calling card is athleticism. His size-adjusted speed is impressive and doesn’t slump, although his effectiveness as a run blocker is less stable. That weakness may push Sean McVay elsewhere at No. 29, but the upside in pass protection is tantalizing, especially as Los Angeles stares down a future without Stafford under center.

Max Iheanachor, Arizona State

The pre-draft circuit is filled with risers, and few are doing more to boost their stock than Arizona State Sun Devils lineman Max Iheanachor. A Senior Bowl standout, Iheanachor’s exceptional trip to Mobile was fueled by a strong platform season.

There were bumps in the road, but Iheanachor went toe-to-toe with Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey, arguably the best pass rusher in the class. He won, decisively. 

At 325 pounds, Iheanachor offers more mass than most of his early-round peers, and that physicality bodes well with McVay’s dedication to winning in the trenches. He’s far more likely to be the 29th pick than the 13th, but playing himself into the first-round conversation is a win in itself.

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