Pro Football Focus Reveals Most Important Rams Free Agent

The Los Angeles Rams will be faced with several important free-agent decisions, but keeping quarterback Matthew Stafford healthy is a must for 2024.

Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead has refurbished the roster and accelerated the post-Super Bowl rebuild. He’s done so without the luxury of a first-round pick. His ability to win along the margins and find value has worked wonders for Los Angeles’ outlook.

No low-risk move carried as much weight as drafting rookie receiver Puka Nacua, but finding wins on the trading block has been imperative, too.

Before the start of the season, the Rams' offensive line was marred with uncertainty. Hoping to add to its depth and give Los Angeles another starting-level option, Snead dealt a 2024 fourth-round pick and a 2025 fifth-round pick for guard Kevin Dotson along with Pittsburgh’s 2024 fifth and 2025 sixth-round picks.

Dec 31, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams (23) scores a rushing touchdown as Los Angeles Rams guard Kevin Dotson (69) blocks New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) during the second half at MetLife Stadium / Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Trading a near-valueless asset for a lineman on an expiring deal was the kind of low-risk, high-reward move that the Rams needed to hit to have the season they did – exceeding all expectations and reaching the Wild Card Round.

Dotson’s fresh start would turn out to be the greener pastures his career needed. He rewarded Snead with the best year of his career, ascending from depth lineman to high-impact starter.

By Pro Football Focus’ offense grade, only Nacua and quarterback Matthew Stafford fared better on that side of the football. At 84.4, his grade was nearly 20 points higher than any of the first three years of his career, and the boost paid dividends for the Los Angeles offense. Only five teams posted a better success rate on the ground than the Rams.

As such, Dotson will be paid handsomely this spring, it’s just a matter of who will be signing the checks. Of Los Angeles’ crop of free agents – including defensive backs Jordan Fuller and Ahkello Witherspoon and tackle Alaric Jackson (a restricted free agent) – PFF dubbed Dotson as the most important to be re-signed.

“Over the past two seasons on different teams, Dotson’s 77.2 pass-blocking grade is a top-10 mark among guards,” Brad Spielberger wrote. “And his 3.2 percent pressure rate allowed ranks sixth.”

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Keeping Stafford upright and paving the path for breakout running back Kyren Williams to dominate are priorities as Los Angeles looks to extend its competitive window. His talent in the trenches is critical, and Dotson’s season is well worth paying for.

Expect Snead and the Rams to be in on the Dotson market, even if he hits unrestricted free agency.