Wyatt Bowles

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Rams secured solid depth at a bargain price with Wyatt Bowles' $1.0M AAV deal, earning a C+ CVI that reflects decent value for a backup interior lineman. While Bowles operates as a replacement-level guard rather than a difference-maker, his minimal salary makes this a low-risk proposition that every NFL team needs to fill out their roster. The $1.9M total commitment suggests this is likely a two-year deal, giving Los Angeles flexibility without major financial exposure if Bowles doesn't develop or contribute meaningfully. Guard depth rarely moves the needle for contending teams, but at this price point, the Rams can afford to take a flyer on a player who could provide adequate spot duty or special teams value. This represents smart salary cap management — not every signing needs to be splashy when you're filling the back end of the roster with competent bodies at market-appropriate rates.

Performance Analysis

Wyatt Bowles sits at the replacement-level tier among NFL guards right now, and a D+ performance grade through three games reflects exactly what you'd expect from an undrafted developmental lineman still fighting for a roster foothold. The data here is intentionally thin — three games of action is barely enough to establish a sample, which itself tells you everything about his current standing on the depth chart. His most meaningful asset at this stage isn't production; it's system familiarity, having already been through Rams preseason reps before landing back on the practice squad in Week 13. The weakness is straightforward: there simply isn't a statistical case to be made for him yet, and a practice squad designation confirms he's not yet trusted in meaningful regular-season snaps. That said, the media framing around Bowles is genuinely more optimistic than the grade suggests — he's been flagged as a "hidden gem" trench presence and a standout in preseason work, which is the exact profile that earns a 53-man elevation when the injury bug hits an offensive line. With the Rams 132 days away from the 2026 regular season opener and the front office actively signing a wave of depth pieces in late April, Bowles is best understood as a developmental interior lineman worth tracking through training camp rather than writing off entirely.

Fan Sentiment

A low-risk practice squad depth move with minimal immediate impact on the Rams' roster. Headlines highlight Bowles as a preseason standout and 'hidden gem,' suggesting reporters see upside. His prior preseason performance is the strongest signal, earning him a second look from Los Angeles. Fans are cautiously optimistic, viewing this as a shrewd reclamation of a familiar face. Bowles projects as a developmental interior lineman with a long-shot path to the 53-man roster.