When the Los Angeles Rams swapped Day 3 picks for the rights to right guard Kevin Dotson, they were trading for a fringe starter to plug into their revolving door of an offensive line.
Instead, Dotson played like one of the best linemen in football. He was a consistent piece in a unit that exceeded expectations, helping both the ground game and passing attack reach heights far beyond the previous season.
Fortunately for Dotson, his breakout season came in a contract year, allowing him the opportunity to test free agency. Los Angeles wouldn’t let him get that far.
By extending Dotson to a three-year deal worth $48 million, $32 million of which is guaranteed, the Rams kept him in Inglewood. The deal is effectively a two-year deal if that’s what general manager Les Snead prefers, allowing them to move on before money gets allocated elsewhere – perhaps to an extension for guard Steve Avila. For now, though, Los Angeles retained a star.
ESPN would give the Dotson extension a B.
"Dotson jumps the 2024 market set earlier this week when the Jaguars extended Ezra Cleveland (three years, $28.5 million). With $32 million guaranteed he sets a high mark compared to last year's top earner (Ben Powers, $28.5 million guaranteed)," Matt Miller wrote. "It's unlikely to last long, with Michael Onwenu set to hit free agency next week, but Dotson moves the recent needle for interior offensive linemen seeking a pay day."
The only red flag on Dotson’s profile is his one-year track record. This isn’t too dissimilar to guard Laken Tomlinson, who broke out for a single season with the San Francisco 49ers before crashing with the New York Jets. However, Dotson's film didn’t seem particularly unsustainable, and the deal isn’t going to loom large, even in most pessimistic scenarios.
As far as big-money deals for interior linemen, Dotson’s extension should rank among the safer ones.
"The Rams are back to building through the draft and smart free agent signings, like this one, after years of ring chasing by acquiring pricey veterans via trades and free agency," Miller said. "Dotson is the type of cornerstone linemen savvy teams acquire for cheap and re-sign at market value contracts. Instead of going after an Onwenu-type player, the Rams stay in-house with an ascending veteran who proved his worth in 2023."
Dotson was invaluable to the Rams offense. Now, they’ll make sure he stays around to provide continuity between the tackles. Don’t be surprised if a market-rate Coleman Shelton return follows suit.
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