In free agency, the Cleveland Browns announced that they had signed Brian Allen, a former center for the Los Angeles Rams. The agreement’s terms were not made public, but it is thought to be for a single year. Ethan Pocic, the starting center, will likely have Allen as his backup. After six seasons with the Rams, Allen was cut by the team earlier in the offseason.
In the 2018 NFL Draft, the Rams selected Allen with the 111th overall pick. Allen participated in 13 games during his rookie campaign. After being awarded the starting position in 2019, he went on to start nine games prior to suffering an injury. Sadly, Allen’s life took a turn for the worse in 2020 when he tested positive for COVID-19 (coronavirus) and had injuries that kept him out of action. Ultimately, the lineman recovered, and in 2021 he enjoyed his best season in the league, starting every game during the regular season and the postseason to assist Los Angeles in winning Super Bowl LVI. A $24 million three-year extension was granted to him due to his outstanding performance.
Nevertheless, Allen sustained injuries once more, this time to his thumb and knee, which prevented him from playing in 10 games in 2022. With Coleman Shelton taking over as starting center during training camp, Allen played in just five games for Los Angeles in 2023, making no starts. Allen made sense to cut given that Los Angeles was nearing the salary cap. There was no room for Allen even though Shelton signed a free agent contract to play for the Chicago Bears; instead, the organization moved Steve Avila to center and signed free agent Jonah Jackson to start at left guard.
Los Angeles still has a strong offensive lineman depth chart despite Allen’s absence. In addition to selecting guard KT Leveston and center Beuax Limmer in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Rams also selected center Kevin Dotson, Jackson, and Avila to man the interior. Both Leveston and Limmer were seen as high-upside swing players who might eventually replace starters.
In the meantime, Allen in Cleveland ought to be well behind Pocic.
The Rams’ reasoning for shifting Steve Avila to center is explained by Sean McVay.
After a fantastic rookie season, Steve Avila—who was regarded as one of the top interior lineman prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft—appears to be a key component of the Rams’ offensive line. Sean McVay clarified that while Avila began each game at left guard, switching him to center was never the original intention, but it soon proved to be a worthwhile route once Jackson became a free agent.
