The Los Angeles Rams don’t have a pressing need at center with the return of Coleman Shelton. Yet, The Athletic slotted the Rams as a potential “best fit” for Iowa All-American interior offensive lineman Logan Jones in the 2026 NFL draft.
The Athletic’s Scott Dochterman said that despite Jones’ status as a pure center, he has “limited position flexibility,” but he does things well 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.”
The veteran Shelton is currently projected to be the team’s center ahead of the 2026 campaign. Shelton signed a two-year deal last season and has a step up on other options on the roster, including Beaux Limmer and Dylan McMahon. If the Rams manage to snag Jones in the draft, Shelton just might have some competition.
Jones was a two-time first-team All-Big Ten in 2024 and 2025, and was also a unanimous All-American selection during his final season at Iowa. He made 51 starts in a standout Hawkeyes career that began along the defensive line. When watching some of his highlights, you can see where that start on defense has translated to his speed and burst on the O-line.
The outlet already believes that Jones could be an immediate starter on a team like the Rams because he already fits what they enjoy doing offensively. Since Jones is considered a mid-round pick at the very least, someone will be getting a steal with the Iowa product. Not only did he test well at the NFL Combine, but he was ranked from great to elite in several Relative Athletic Score (RAS) categories.
Again, the Rams don’t have a pressing need for a center, given the presence of Shelton. However, Jones has the power and burst that fit what Sean McVay has long-since established on offense, which could make him a great fit in Hollywood if the organization selects him.
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