NFL Rumors: Kevin Dotson, Rams Agree to New 3-year, $48M Contract Before Free Agency

Kevin Dotson won't be hitting free agency after all.

The veteran guard reportedly agreed to a three-year, $48 million deal with the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz and ESPN's Adam Schefter, keeping an important blocker in front of quarterback Matthew Stafford.

Dotson, 27, was traded by the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Los Angeles Rams ahead of the 2023 season alongside a 2024 fifth-round pick and 2025 sixth-rounder in exchange for a 2024 fourth-rounder and 2025 fifth-rounder.

The moved proved to be excellent business, as the 2020 fourth-round pick ranked 95th among all NFL players this past season, per Sam Monson of PFF.

He noted that the veteran guard was "a consistently outstanding pass protector but posted below-average PFF grades in the run game" during his time in Pittsburgh, but his first season in Los Angeles "saw him dominate as a run blocker and still perform well as a pass protector" in what was a "career year."

Only Atlanta Falcons guard Chris Lindstrom ranked higher among guards in the PFF ratings.

Rams general manager Les Snead made it no secret that he wanted Dotson back.

"He'll definitely have a marketplace, for sure. People are going to want him to come play football for them," he told reporters in January. "We're one of those teams."

Dotson told the team's website in December that getting moved back to right tackle in Los Angeles played a major factor in his success, allowing him to play more naturally and comfortably than his time on the left in Pittsburgh.

The results spoke for themselves.

"Dude's different, man," left tackle Alaric Jackson told the team's website in December. "I mean, if he gets on you, it's over with for the most part. Knocking guys down, getting to the ball, finishing guys. I mean, locker room guy, you see him pumped up all the time. So dude's different, for sure."

He definitely made a difference for a Rams team that returned to the playoffs in 2023. He'll be expected to do so for the next three seasons, too, after Thursday's extension.