For the first time since 2015, the Rams are heading into a season without Rob Havenstein locked in at right tackle. That leaves Warren McClendon in a spotlight he hasn’t had to carry before, and it’s a big one.
McClendon already showed he could handle the job in spot duty last season. When Havenstein was out, McClendon stepped in and held up well, finishing as the seventh-best tackle via PFF with an overall grade of 83.5.
But being the fill-in and being the full-time starter are two very different assignments. Now the Rams are asking him to be the guy on the right side from the start, and that comes with real pressure.
The team is treating him like more than just a temporary solution. Instead of spending premium draft capital on a tackle, the Rams passed on bringing in a clear challenger and chose to show confidence in McClendon.
They did add Keagen Trost, who could help on the right side if needed, and David Quessenberry may be the preferred backup because of his experience. Still, the message is clear: McClendon has been handed the runway.
That trust makes him one of the most important players on the roster entering 2026. If he holds up, the Rams may have found their right tackle of the future, especially with McClendon entering a contract season. If he slips, the offense could be thrown into a tough spot and the right side could turn into a rotating cast next offseason.
The Rams know what Havenstein meant to that spot. He gave them stability for years. McClendon is now being asked to provide something similar, and how he handles that responsibility could shape both the immediate season and the long-term picture up front.
If he delivers over the course of the year, he won’t just be a stopgap. He could become a core piece of the Rams’ offensive line plans going forward.
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