Kevin Dotson doesn’t always get the spotlight, but the Rams’ run game has made it pretty clear how much he matters.
Rams On SI has him slotted at No. 9 in its countdown of the team’s top 25 players for the 2026 season, and the case for Dotson starts with what happened when he wasn’t on the field. After he went down with an ankle injury last season, Los Angeles saw its rushing average dip from 4.8 yards per carry to 4.0. That drop says plenty about how central Dotson is to what the Rams want to do on the ground.
Since arriving in a trade in 2023, Dotson has grown into one of the NFL’s best guards and become a driving force up front. He’s helped give the Rams a more physical identity, especially as the offense has shifted away from some wide zone looks and leaned more into gap and duo concepts. His style fits that approach, and his presence helps unlock the run game at its best.
He’s also taken on a bigger leadership role. With Rob Havenstein out of the picture, Dotson is now the veteran voice on the offensive line. Alaric Jackson and Coleman Shelton are part of the group, but Dotson is the one expected to steady things and help Warren McClendon on the right side.
The Rams do have some depth behind him. Justin Dedich has shown he can hold up at guard, and Keagen Trost should be able to kick inside as well.
But none of those options brings the same kind of physical advantage Dotson gives the offense. If he’s missing, the Rams lose more than a guard - they lose a piece that shapes the entire run game.
That was already on display last season. When Dotson is sidelined or less effective, the ground attack loses some of its edge and becomes less efficient. The offensive line and the run game have been built around his physicality, and without it, the Rams give up part of what makes them who they are.
His value in pass protection matters too, even if that’s not his strongest calling card. Keeping the interior clean for Matthew Stafford is especially important as Stafford gets older, because if the pocket breaks down inside, the offense feels it quickly.
There’s a fair argument that Dotson belongs even higher on the list. He’s one of the Rams’ most dependable offensive linemen and a player the team has clearly built its run game around.
Still, positional value matters, and the Rams could survive with Justin Dedich if necessary, even if the ceiling on the run game takes a hit. Dotson is elite at what he does, but there are still players ahead of him who carry more weight for the coming season.
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