Much has been made of the Los Angeles Rams' breakout offensive guard Kevin Dotson.
The trade for him ahead of the 2023 season set the stage for what became a surprisingly positive season for the Rams.
Now, Pro Football Focus is labeling Dotson as a player the Rams can't let go of in NFL free agency this spring.
"The Rams' trade for Dotson from the Pittsburgh Steelers before the season should have served as a signal about the change in rushing scheme McVay was adopting, and Dotson was a picture-perfect fit as Los Angeles pivoted to an inside-zone/gap-heavy attack on the ground with great success," Brad Spielberger wrote.
"Over the past two seasons on different teams, Dotson’s 77.2 pass-blocking grade is a top-10 mark among guards, and his 3.2% pressure rate allowed ranks sixth."
Dotson is bound to have a market in free agency. However, recently Rams' general manager Les Snead indicated the team is willing to do what it takes to ensure that he returns to Los Angeles for the 2024 season.
“He’ll have a marketplace, for sure. People are going to want him to come play football for them,” Snead said. “We’re one of those teams.”
Dotson was on an offensive line that helped Kyren Williams rush for more than 1,000 yards. He was the first 1,000-yard rusher for the Rams since Todd Gurley.
What is Kevin Dotson's value?
Dotson's value rose immensely throughout the 2023 season. He is the epitome of a player who can thrive when given the opportunity.
Los Angeles did that for him. A to Z Sports' cap experts projected a contract in the realm of four years, $72 million.
"He won’t reset the market in 2024, but Dotson went from a replacement-level valuation in the preseason to one of the top free agent guards on the market," A to Z Sports writes.
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