ESPN analyst just captured Rams' Kevin Dotson dilemma in a nutshell

One thing the Los Angeles Rams have not accomplished in their busy offseason thus far is chip away at the vast number of extensions they need to get done. They did, of course, tack on another year to Matthew Stafford's contract. They also extended safety Kam Curl and tight end Tyler Higbee just before free agency began.

Otherwise, they have a long list of names to check off. One player whose future the Rams would be wise to address is that of right guard Kevin Dotson. At least, that's how ESPN analyst Aaron Schatz sees it, naming Dotson's extension the top item on LA's remaining offseason to-do list. The Rams have four pending free agents on the offensive line, and now Alaric Jackson Jr.'s immediate status is uncertain, too. 

By Pro Football Focus grade, Dotson was easily their most productive lineman last season, ranking third among qualified guards. That matches the eye test. As Schatz lays out, though, the Horns have a dilemma. 

With Dotson set to turn 30 in September, the front office must decide whether to use their limited cap space on extending Dotson or, on the left side, the younger but not-quite-as-elite Steve Avila.

Resolving Dotson dilemma may come down to prioritizing the present 

Here's how Schtaz frames that agonizing decision, and he hits the nail on the head:

"The Rams' starting guards are set to be free agents at the end of this season, and it would be a lot easier to find one new starting guard than it would be to find two. Given where the Rams are in their developmental cycle, it probably makes more sense to extend Dotson, who has better metrics than left guard Steve Avila. If the Rams are more concerned with setting up the position long term, then they should extend the 27-year-old Avila rather than the 30-year-old Dotson -- or, if they extend them both, they could extend Avila for longer."

Obviously, securing both would be ideal. But with the number of looming extensions on the table, a list that includes receiver Puka Nacua, edge rusher Byron Young, and defensive lineman Kobie Turner, it will be impossible to ink them all. 

On the o-line alone, the Rams should be keen to keep Dotson, Avila, and tackle Warren McClendon. The only exception is center Coleman Shelton, who feels like the odd man out.

It might seem like prioritizing extensions for the younger players would be an obvious choice. But "where the Rams are in their developmental cycle" is in the midst of a time-sensitive Super Bowl window, which could temporarily close whenever Stafford hangs it up. In that context, a shorter-term deal with Dotson, a veteran and the better player, might be a more valuable investment.

Dotson is entering the final year of a three-year, $48 million deal. Spotrac estimates the market value of his next contract at three years for $58.3 million. 

Avila, meanwhile, is at the end of his rookie deal, with a projected extension value of four years, $54.2 million. Frankly, that contract would be a huge favor to the Rams.

Avila graded out as PFF's ninth-ranked guard in 2025. Per Spotrac, the current top 10 in annual guard salaries bottoms out at $17.5 million per year. Accounting for ever-inflating contracts, a four-year commitment could approach $70 million or even exceed it.  

Dotson should be available at a relative discount given his age, so if the Rams must choose between the two, it would be hard to fault them for inking him first.

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