Former Steelers OL Impresses With Rams

Former Steelers offensive lineman Kevin Dotson got traded to the Los Angeles Rams before the cut-down day this season. However, Dotson has played well after taking over with the Rams and has seen his stock rise exponentially. Dotson’s resurgence comes with the 2nd best Pro Football Focus grade out of any guard in the NFL through the three games that Dotson has played with the Rams. Currently, he is the fifth-highest-graded lineman in all of football.

That’s the type of value that the Rams are getting from Dotson. Solid play is not foreign to Dotson at the NFL level. At times, he flashed brilliance with the Steelers, playing with excellent play strength and drive. Yet, he never fully got that going amid injuries and inconsistencies throughout his time with the Steelers. But his steadiness with the Rams is the type of player he would look like without those flaws he presented.

That Kevin Dotson trade before the season by the Rams has had nice returns already based on how well he played the last two weeks. He's been a plus player with several impact blocks. Play strength! pic.twitter.com/LuI3vaSRjt

— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) October 13, 2023

Pittsburgh drafted Dotson in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Dotson played phenomenally during his rookie season, as he made 13 appearances and recorded four starts while not allowing a single sack. He also played a significant role on a historic offensive line that allowed just 14 total sacks all season, the franchise’s lowest mark since 1982.

He had his second season cut short after just nine games of being a full-time starter and resumed his starting role last season with a season-ending ankle injury. After his level of play declined over the past two seasons, it seems his time as a Steeler is nearing its end. This offseason, the team signed Isaac Seumalo to a three-year, $24 million contract, and he is expected to take over the starting left guard position.

Dotson played a career-high 1,160 snaps last season and was rated as the Steelers third-best starting offensive lineman (65.4) and the best overall pass blocker (77.6) on the line by PFF. Dotson is one of many former Steelers players who have played at a high level this season after leaving the team. When that happens, questions must be asked, especially with Dotson, who has seemingly looked fantastic.

For what it’s worth, Dotson is still very early into his Rams tenure. But the revenge game is coming up on Sunday, and he is proving that the change of scenery may have been positive for his growth in the NFL. As it stands, he’s playing as well as he has in the NFL, and it looks like he is on the verge of a breakout campaign.