Heading into the 2023 season, the Los Angeles Rams made sure to stock up on offensive lineman as they kept 10 on the 53-man roster.
However, the effort to shore up their depth didn’t end there as they swung a trade for Kevin Dotson. The Rams sent the Pittsburgh Steelers a 2024 fourth and fifth-round pick in exchange for Dotson and 2024 fifth and sixth-round picks.
When discussing the reasoning behind the trade for Dotson, Snead acknowledged that they had been monitoring him throughout the preseason and struck once the opportunity came about, via Skyler Carlin of USA Today:
“I think that it started with he’s been a starter in Pittsburgh,” Snead said. “They drafted a good bit of OL. They signed some in unrestricted free agency so you did know that they had a surplus of OL who had played in NFL games and with the draftees coming in, they were a team that we targeted initially to monitor if we ever wanted to go in that direction. And then obviously you turn on the tape, you play the Pittsburgh (Steelers), they’re a fun team to watch. Their linemen play with an element of toughness, they like to run the ball, they like to go north and south. He’s a bigger player that helps in anchoring, especially in the pocket.
“So I think initially we got to get him up to speed. We’ve tried to trade for him most of the preseason. They wanted to hold onto him to make sure that they got through preseason healthy and didn’t necessarily need him and still have the surplus that we thought they might have. Right now, let’s get him up to speed and then from that point we’ll see where he fits in and what ends up being our best five along the way.”
Dotson is the most experienced guard on Los Angeles’ roster as he started 30 games for Pittsburgh. The Steelers had no use for Dotson after their free agency period, so he was the perfect target for Snead and the Rams.
Trading for Dotson right before the start of the season signals that he is strongly being considered to start. Steve Avila seems entrenched at the starting left guard spot, meaning Dotson could be competing with Tremayne Anchrum Jr. and Joseph Noteboom at right guard.
Regardless, the veteran makes for a welcomed addition to the offensive lineman room and it’ll be interesting to see what his role ultimately ends up being.
