This offseason, the New York Giants will need to bolster their offensive line in order to improve on the team that gave up a league-high 85 sacks in 2023. Fortunately, there are a ton of talented offensive linemen expected to be available in free agency this offseason.
One seasoned offensive lineman that could strengthen Big Blue’s lineup was recently recommended by Pro Football Focus. Kevin Dotson, a right guard for the Los Angeles Rams who will soon become a free agency, is a wonderful fit for the Giants.
Why Kevin Dotson is someone the Giants should want to sign this offseason
After playing out the final year of his rookie deal with the Rams in 2023, Dotson is now in his fifth season in the NFL. Dotson, a 2020 fourth-round selection of the Pittsburgh Steelers, was moved to Los Angeles during the summer and went on to establish himself as one of the league’s best interior offensive lineman.
In 2023, Dotson allowed only four sacks and 20 pressures in 14 starts (881 snaps) at right guard. He posted an 85.2 overall PFF grade this season, ranking second among all guards in the NFL. His 88.8 overall run-blocking grade was the best in the league.
Dotson was just named by PFF as one of the NFL’s upcoming free agents with the biggest increase in his draft stock this season:
Can Dotson be signed by the Giants in free agency?
But signing Dotson won’t be simple. According to Spotrac, he is expected to be worth $16.4 million based on his average yearly earnings. He would rank among the NFL’s top five offensive linemen in terms of salary as a result. The Giants will have to shell out cash to get Dotson if they want to improve their offensive line.
Still, if Dotson signed, the Giants’ offensive line would receive a significant upgrade. His career-low PFF grade of 64.5 is higher than the 2023 offensive guard beginning grades for any of the Giants’ starting guards (Mark Glowinski, his backup, had the best score of 64.8 overall). Although he was always a strong pass blocker during his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dotson has improved since joining the Los Angeles Rams this offseason in exchange for two picks, which allowed the Rams to move down a round early on Day 3.
Dotson is a fantastic run-blocker on the interior who can also shield passes well. The Giants’ offensive attack would be improved in both areas of the game if he were to join the offensive line. Dotson would create openings for the running game while also helping to protect the quarterback
Even at his worst, Dotson is better than the Giants’ best. And at his best, he’s one of the best interior offensive linemen in the NFL. If the Giants can afford to sign Dotson, he would be a huge addition to the team.
