Rams helping Matthew Stafford on offense in free agency

LOS ANGELES — In the leadup to the new league year, general manager Les Snead cautioned that there wouldn’t be fireworks to start the free agency period for the Los Angeles Rams.

But, perhaps quietly, the Rams made several impactful moves, showing at least one of their priorities in free agency was protecting quarterback Matthew Stafford.

Before the start of the negotiating window, the Rams re-signed guard Kevin Dotson to a three-year, $48 million deal that includes $32 million guaranteed. The next week, Los Angeles signed guard Jonah Jackson to a three-year, $51 million deal with $34 million guaranteed. Because of those moves, the Rams are expected to move second-year offensive lineman Steve Avila from guard to center, a position he played at TCU.

Last season, the Rams allowed an average of 1.59 sacks per game, which ranked fifth in the NFL. Their pressure rate allowed was 17.43%, which ranked sixth in the NFL.

Perhaps most importantly, Los Angeles only started six different players all season: Avila (who played every snap), Coleman Shelton (17 starts), Alaric Jackson (15), Rob Havenstein (14), Dotson (14) and Joe Noteboom (8). That is especially noteworthy when compared to the 2022 season, when the Rams dealt with so many injuries on their offensive line that they started 12 different offensive line combinations through their first 13 games.

Last season, Stafford stayed relatively healthy, missing a game and a half due to injury and throwing for 3,965 yards, 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 15 games. In 2022, he was in the concussion protocol twice and ended the season on injured reserve with a spinal cord contusion.

“The more that you can have the same people, the better and more confidence we play with, the more belief in the person next to you,” Dotson said. “So it’s always good to have that same group or at least close to that same group so we can all have that mindset even more than we did the year prior. At offensive line, it’s one of the best things to have, that kind of continuity.”

The Rams also signed tight end Colby Parkinson, a position that became a need after tight end Tyler Higbee tore his ACL and MCL in January. Higbee has had surgery, Snead said, but the Rams do not have a timeline for his return.

Parkinson said he signed in Los Angeles because it was “a natural fit.” Parkinson, who played his first four NFL seasons with the Seahawks, also said there’s a familiarity because he played for former Seattle offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, who was an assistant coach under McVay for four seasons.

Last season in 17 games for Seattle, Parkinson had 25 catches for 247 yards and two touchdowns. When asked what he thinks he brings to the Rams’ offense, Parkinson said he thinks he’s “a complete tight end.”

“Someone that can play all three downs and stretch the field at the same time, be able to stretch the seams and be a red zone threat while also being dominant in the run game is kind of what I pride myself on,” Parkinson said. “So looking forward to being that guy and being a cornerstone of the offense.”

All three players signed three-year contracts, which lines up with the three years remaining on the contract extension Stafford signed in 2022 that keeps him under contract through the 2026 season. The chance to protect Stafford, Jackson said, was one of reasons he chose to sign in Los Angeles. Jackson and Stafford were teammates in Detroit in 2020, Jackson’s rookie season.

“In Detroit, we called him ‘the Wizard,'” Jackson said. “He could figure it all out and he can make anything happen. I’m excited to be able to protect him and let him make us look good and make plays happen.”