The only serious concerns surrounding the offensive line that the Los Angeles Rams still had when training camp ended were whether Steve Avila would start at left guard or Rob Havenstein at right tackle. Sean McVay was forced to settle for Joe Noteboom at right guard due to competition everywhere else. He tried to squeeze as much value as possible out of his overpriced contract extension, but eventually the front office delivered the steal of the summer: the Rams traded Kevin Dotson, a 2024 fifth round pick and a 2025 sixth round pick, to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for two 2024 fourth round picks and a 2025 fifth round pick.
The Steelers effectively traded guard Kevin Dotson to the Rams for free. After finishing his first year with the Rams, Dotson will be without a free agent in around six weeks.
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As the team’s most-improved player of 2023, Dotson was recognized by PFF, highlighting his stellar play as a guard after taking over for all other choices at right guard in Week 4. If past performance is any indication, the 27-year-old free agent will not receive a penny from the Rams on his next contract, which could pay up to $18 million a season.
The Rams did, in fact, pay center Brian Allen and Noteboom. To recap, they were overpaid, in case you missed it.
The franchise has a history of letting free agency interior offensive lineman depart; Austin Corbett in 2022 is one example of this. While with the Carolina Panthers for the whole season, Corbett performed admirably; but, in 2023, he missed all but four games.
It will be up for argument whether or not to keep Dotson, but given how much better he is, the Los Angeles Rams may even receive another compensatory selection if they decide not to re-sign him—probably in the third round.
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