Braden Smith
Getty
The Rams offensive line needs to fill some spots in the 2026 offseason
The Los Angeles Rams have some big shoes to fill now that Rob Havenstein has announced his retirement after 11 seasons in the NFL.
Havenstein was one of the last remaining players from the St. Louis days, having been selected by the team in the 2015 NFL Draft.
A starter throughout his tenure with the organization, the Rams will now begin to look for a new right tackle to protect Matthew Stafford, who confirmed to return for another season.
Former All-Rookie to Rams?
Colts RT Braden Smith
GettyFocusing on the offensive line is a must for the Rams in the 2026 season
The Los Angeles Rams offensive line was one of the best in the league in terms of how many times their starting quarterback was sacked — Matthew Stafford was sacked just 23 times in the 2025 season, one of the lowest in the league for starters.
Looking to keep that sack number low, the Rams will need to find a steady, quality replacement for Havenstein.
With the offseason just a month away, LA can start looking at options to best protect Stafford’s front side.
Bleach Report’s Kristopher Knox names the Rams as potential suitors for Indianapolis Colts tackle Braden Smith, who is set to become a free agent.
“Indianapolis Colts right tackle Braden Smith does carry a couple of concerns into free agency. He ended last season on injured reserve with a concussion and neck injury, he’s missed at least four games in each of the last three years, and he will turn 30 in March,” Knox wrote. “However, Smith is a high-level starter when healthy, and as Super Bowl LX showed, good pass protection is a premium asset.”
“Smith is a powerful force on the edge, with a long 6’6” frame that he uses to keep defenders away from his pads. 2025 wasn’t his best campaign, but he still ranked 36th among all tackles in pass blocking, according to Pro Football Focus… With a relatively underwhelming overall tackle pool in free agency, Smith should get strong offers from teams in need of line help.”
The right tackle allowed just one sack on almost 800 snaps played for the Colts’ offense this season.
A former 2018 All-Rookie member, Smith would give the right side of the line some quality to protect Stafford and the run game, as shown by the Colts’ run game with Jonathan Taylor, who has run behind Smith his whole career.
Pro Football Focus named the Colts offensive line as the second-best front five in the league, so snagging one of those pieces and placing them with Sean McVay and Stafford can see the highest scoring offense in the 2025 season do some more damage to opposing defenses.
Rams May Have Solution To Right Tackle
Warren McClendon Jr., Los Angeles Rams
GettyThe solution to replacing Rob Havenstein may already be on the Rams roster
Los Angeles may not have to look too far to find a new right tackle, instead using the guy who replaced Rob Havenstein.
Warren McClendon Jr. stepped up after Havenstein suffered the ankle injury that forced him out of the latter half of the season and missed the Rams’ playoff run.
McClendon was one of the best tackles in the league, according to PFF, with the third-year player receiving an overall grade of 83.5, the seventh-highest out of 89 qualifying.
The tackle is still under his rookie contract, but the Rams could lock him down on a cheaper deal compared to Braden Smith.