Center Coleman Shelton has the option to opt out of his contract, but Sean McVay wants the Rams to keep him.
Based on remarks made by the head coach, reports surfaced on Thursday indicating that the Los Angeles Rams aim to retain starting center Coleman Shelton for the long run. Sean McVay wants to sign Shelton before he can void the last year of his contract and become a free agency.
“We would really like to get him back,” said McVay.
Since 2022, Shelton has started at center and guard for the Rams. He is starting his 29th season and is rated as mediocre to below average by most publications. But the Rams cut Brian Allen this week, and if they don’t sign Shelton, they won’t have many options except to sign a free agent, choose from the draft, or perhaps move Steve Avila to center.
For that reason alone, Shelton is perhaps a better fit for Los Angeles than any free agent. There is ambiguity because of the draft. Shelton hasn’t been an exceptional center in the Pro Bowl, but he hasn’t been a liability either, so McVay might be attempting to get him back rather than have him choose to become a free agency by opting out. All that should be required is a pay increase and a promise. For a player like Shelton, the starting center salary is probably not going to exceed $5 million annually.