Drew Dalman could help the Rams be the top rushing team in the NFL
One of the most intriguing free agents this week is Falcons center Drew Dalman. Expected to be the top target at the position in free agency, it’s looking more and more like the 26-year-old out of Stanford will leave Atlanta for the highest bidder and with center being one of the most underrated roles in football, his landing spot could move the needle on next season.
Though the L.A. Rams struck out with Jonah Jackson last year and they did draft Beaux Limmer in the sixth round, should Les Snead kick the tires on Dalman as an option to start in between Steve Avila and Kevin Dotson?
Schultz: C Drew Dalman expected to have “strong” market; Bears viewed as “serious suitor.”
— Underdog NFL (@Underdog__NFL) March 9, 2025
Dalman was a fourth round pick in 2021 and he has started 40 games for the Falcons over the last four years. That includes nine games in 2024 with former Rams defensive coordinator and current Atlanta head coach Raheem Morris, which means Dalman has some familiarity with the Sean McVay coaching tree.
If he lands somewhere between fifth place and first place for center contracts, Dalman might get something like a four-year, $56 million contract.
As surprising as it would be for the Rams to target a center one year after they missed so bad on Jackson, as well as getting 14 starts from Limmer, is there a chance that McVay sees a higher ceiling with Dalman than Limmer? And would it be worth it?
Dalman is considered an elite run blocking center and the ground game is McVay’s true bread and butter.
But is it worth it to spread the money so heavily on the offensive line? The team just re-sign A.J. Jackson and is still paying hefty prices for Dotson and Jackson. However, the NFL raised the salary cap again, and will do it again in 2026, so maybe this isn’t the worst use of resources.
Because even if Jackson was a bust, that still means that unless Limmer improves next season that center is still a need.
