Heading into the 2026 season, Rams' offensive tackle Warren McClendon Jr. is entering a crucial contract year, as he will be a free agent in 2027.
The Los Angeles Rams are no doubt primed for a strong showing in 2026; however, following the season, there will be some key decisions to be made, which include contract extensions for several different players who are set to be 2027 free agents.
One of the more important players the Rams may want to extend is offensive tackle Warren McClendon Jr., who is coming off his season at the NFL level thus far and could be even better in 2026.
Last season, McClendon was very reliable, as he had an 83.5 overall grade (No. 7 among all tackles), a 73.9 pass blocking grade (No. 30 among all tackles), and a run blocking grade of 86.7 (No. 5 among all tackles) according to PFF.
Based on McClendon's grades, he definitely has the ability to be a solid pass protector and has the size and strength to pave lanes for the Rams' rushing attack in the run game.
Looking deeper at McClendon's effectiveness as a pass blocker, McClendon allowed one sack, 12 quarterback pressures, and had just one penalty the entire season. While looking at the grades does help to get an idea of how a player is performing, analyzing the pressures and sacks allowed, in addition to the penalties he had, tells a bit of a different story.
With just one sack and 12 pressures allowed, McClendon was quite a reliable piece on the offensive line as he kept Matthew Stafford clean a significant portion of the time, which was one of the key elements in helping Stafford to win the MVP in 2025.
In addition to being a solid pass protector, McClendon's 86.7 run blocking grade, aided by his 6-4 and 300-pound frame, also demonstrates that he can dominate the line of scrimmage and help the Rams running back duo of Kyren Williams and Blake Corum to be quite effective on the ground.
As a result of McClendon's success in 2025, the Rams may have high expectations for McClendon as he enters 2026 to build on his success last season and prove that he is worth a lucrative contract to be a part of this Rams' roster for years to come.
McClendon may have to make an adjustment for the Rams in 2026 based on the fact that fellow offensive tackle Alaric Jackson could be facing a multi-game suspension to start the season due to a domestic violence case where the charges were dropped.
If Jackson does get suspended to start the year, the Rams could have some shuffling to do on the offensive line, with teams like the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles on the schedule early in the season that have very effective pass rush units.
To make the best possible adjustment, McClendon may need to move from right tackle to left tackle, which could then slot in rookie offensive tackle Keagen Trost at right tackle and could put the offensive line unit as a whole in a good position to succeed.
While it is not a guarantee that McClendon fits perfectly at left tackle, he has had more success among the offensive tackles who would be available to replace Jackson for a few games.
Other than putting Trost on the right side and McClendon on the left, the Rams' next best option seems to be plugging in veteran David Quessenberry at left tackle; however, his playing well on the left side is no guarantee either.
To ensure the Rams have the best possible chance to make a deep run, reliable play at both tackle positions is a must. Heading into camp, McClendon at left tackle and Trost at right tackle could be the Rams' best chance at the position if Jackson really is suspended.
If McClendon can build on his 2025 campaign and prove to be an effective, consistent, and reliable tackle on both the right and left sides, the Rams may have no choice but to extend him because it is quite difficult to find solid, versatile, and young tackles in this league.
