by J.T. Toth
Photo courtesy of Behind the Steel Curtain.
With a surplus of offensive linemen, the Steelers traded former starting guard Kevin Dotson to the Rams for a swap of draft picks. The Steelers will receive the Rams' 4th in 2024 and their 5th in 2025 while sending Los Angeles their 5th in 2024 and 6th round pick in 2025.
Dotson lost his starting job to Isaac Seumalo, who was signed to a three-year contract in the off-season. In Dotson’s absence, Nate Herbig, another free agent signing, will be asked to fill the main backup spot at guard. There is some speculation that the trade may also keep a spot on the bench for versatile lineman, Kendrick Green, who can play center and guard.
After being drafted in the 4th round out of Louisiana-Lafayette by the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dotson started 30 of the 39 games he played in.
Assistant GM Andy Weidl, who worked most recently with the NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles, set out to reformulate the underperforming Steelers' offensive line and convinced new GM Omar Khan to ink former Eagle Isaac Seumalo to a long term contract in the offseason. Seumalo has proven himself over the years and won the competition in training camp outright from Dotson.
Dotson will provide the LA Rams with some much needed depth as they enter the season with two young starting guards in Tremayne Anchrum Jr. and last year's round 2 draft pick, Steve Avila.