After Week 1 of the NFL preseason, the Los Angeles Rams’ spotlight has turned to undrafted offensive lineman Willie Lampkin.
The North Carolina product, signed by the Rams in April, entered camp this offseason undersized at 5-foot-11 and 279 pounds. But thus far, he’s proving why he was a five-year college starter.
Head coach Sean McVay has “noticed,” and was quick to acknowledge Lampkin’s impact in practice, as well as Los Angeles’ preseason opener against the Dallas Cowboys on August 9.
“I thought he did a nice job,” McVay said of Lampkin, per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk and NBC Sports. “Obviously, he has great leverage, can get underneath people and be able to finish. That was what you loved about him at North Carolina, but just a competitor. He’s tough, he’s physical. He understands how to play to his strengths. I think he’s done a really good job, I thought a lot of guys did a nice job, but I was pleased with Willie.”
What stands out is Lampkin’s ability to finish blocks and consistently be lower than defenders, and it’s clear the coaching staff will be keeping a close eye on whether or not he’s able to maintain that same level of play.
Undrafted To 53-Man Roster Favorite
Lampkin was a first-team All-American and won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the ACC’s top offensive lineman last season. Yet despite those accolades, teams passed on him in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski predicted in May that he’d be one of the top undrafted free agents to fill out a final 53-man roster this summer, calling Lampkin “simply too good of a football player” to be cut.
“Lampkin easily produced some of the best tape seen from any prospect this past season,” Sobleski wrote. “At 5’10” and 280 pounds, he’s a severe outlier. Still, his size deficiencies weren’t as issue at the Senior Bowl when facing other all-star-caliber NFL prospects. If anything, Lampkin came out of that event looking even more impressive.
Now, the question is whether Lampkin can play anything other than center at the highest level. Honestly, the evaluation process had pegged him as pivot because of his size despite starting 35 collegiate games between the two guard sports.
Watch the undrafted free agent continue to impress and find a way to become the Rams’ primary swing interior blocker.”
There’s no doubt Lampkin fits McVay’s scheme, but he’ll have to prove it once again in preseason Week 2 against the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday.
Lampkin Bolsters Rams O-Line Depth
Listed as an IOL coming out of college, Lampkin has quickly adapted primarily to center. His preseason debut last week — along with a viral video that highlights a play where he pancaked four Cowboys defenders — has put him on watch by the coaching staff and the fans.
The Rams’ unofficial depth chart from August 6 has Coleman Shelton in the starting center spot, followed by Beaux Limmer and then Lampkin.
Anything could change in the coming days during training camp. That said, keeping the undrafted rookie in the building this fall could pay off as the Rams continue to shape a stronger offensive front.
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