Kevin Dotson has established himself as the Rams’ top free agent this offseason after a terrific first year in Los Angeles. The Rams would love to re-sign him and maintain some continuity on the right side of the offensive line, but he’s going to have his fair share of suitors in free agency.
That could make it difficult for the Rams to bring him back.
Whichever team signs him will be getting a powerful guard who’s great in both pass protection and the run game, and he’s only 27 years old, too.
Pro Football Focus ranked Dotson as the 23rd-best free agent of 2024, and ESPN has him up there among the best, too. ESPN’s Matt Bowen ranked him as the 24th-best free agent available this offseason, the only Rams player to make the top 50.
After being traded from Pittsburgh in the 2023 offseason, Dotson put up the best tape of his career. He finished with a pass block win rate of 92.4% and run block win rate of 73.5%. A phone-booth brawler, he’s at his best in a gap run scheme.
Dotson fit seamlessly in the Rams’ scheme, playing well at right guard from the first opportunity he got to start between Coleman Shelton and Rob Havenstein. The offensive line got a big upgrade when he stepped in, improving the protection for Stafford and helping open up big running lanes for Kyren Williams.
The Rams’ top priority this offseason should be re-signing Dotson and then addressing their other needs after that.