The former Los Angeles Rams center Brian Allen was a free agent when he was signed by the Cleveland Browns.
Although the deal’s terms were not made public, it is thought to be for a year. Presumably, Allen will back up starting center Ethan Pocic.
The Rams cut Allen earlier in the summer after he played for the team for six seasons.
Allen was chosen by the Rams with the 111st overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, and he participated in 13 games during his rookie campaign. Before getting hurt, he went on to start nine games after winning the starting role in 2019. Sadly, Allen’s luck ran out in 2020 when he tested positive for COVID-19 (coronavirus) and sustained injuries that prevented him from playing.
After a slow start, the lineman rebounded to have his best season in league history in 2021, starting all 16 games during the regular season and the postseason to help Los Angeles win Super Bowl LVI. His impressive play earned him a $24 million three-year agreement.
But Allen was sidelined for ten games in the 2022 season after suffering ailments to his thumb and knee once more. After losing out on starting center duty to Coleman Shelton 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.
