Kevin Dotson has spent the last few seasons doing the kind of work that usually gets noticed only when it disappears. For the Rams, that’s been the story with a lot of their offensive line under Sean McVay: strong play, little investment, and almost no Pro Bowl love to show for it.
That disconnect has been especially glaring with Dotson. Since arriving, he’s been one of the better guards in football, yet the national spotlight has mostly looked elsewhere.
In 2023, he graded as the seventh-best offensive lineman. Last year, he was 10th overall.
Still, he didn’t get much attention, and he didn’t even land among the top 10 interior offensive linemen voted on by NFL coaches and executives this offseason.
That’s why Sports Illustrated’s Connor Orr put Dotson on his list of eight players who could make their Pro Bowl debut in 2026.
“In the NFC, it’s been nearly impossible for an offensive lineman to break through for almost the entirety of the past decade,” said Orr. “Still, that doesn’t change the fact that some of the best offensive line performances on a yearly basis come from the Rams.
When Dotson was hurt, the Rams were 16th in EPA per rush. He’s not the sole factor but it’s an indication of how critical his presence was.
Dotson has a difficult path to the Pro Bowl with the likes of Chris Lindstrom and Tyler Smith within the division, but it’s about time some of McVay’s linemen get the recognition they deserve.”
The road is steep. Right guard is crowded with names like Chris Lindstrom, Quinn Meinerz, Quenton Nelston, and Tyler Booker in the mix. But Dotson’s value to the Rams run game is hard to miss when you look at what changed without him.
Orr pointed out that Los Angeles ranked 16th in EPA per rush last season when Dotson was injured. The numbers back up the eye test, too: the Rams averaged 4.0 yards per carry without him and 4.8 with him on the field.
That’s because Dotson does the dirty work that makes the whole thing go. He helps set the tone on gap and duo runs, moves defenders off their spots, and gets to the second level with the kind of force the Rams want from the right side of their line. His physicality matters.
The timing also lines up with Dotson entering the final year of the extension he signed after the 2023 season. With his leadership and his impact in the run game, he figures to be a priority for the Rams to keep around.
If he puts together another season in the upper tier of run-blocking guards, maybe 2026 is finally the year Dotson gets the recognition that’s been a long time coming.
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