​The Los Angeles Rams have spent several seasons shaping their offensive line, and the 2025 unit stands as the strongest the franchise has fielded since their Super Bowl LVI triumph. Rather than following the conventional playbook of signing high-priced free agents or drafting marquee talents at the top of the board, the Rams have pursued a different strategy. They have cultivated and acquired players who had been overlooked by others, building a cohesive group that highlights the team’s strengths and allows its interior to shine. This approach has drawn notable recognition, including Sports Illustrated’s Matt Verderame highlighting Steve Avila and Kevin Dotson as the NFL’s third-best guard duo.
Verderame lauded the Rams as overwhelming favorites not only to reach the Super Bowl but to win it, pointing to the formidable interior line as a primary reason for that confidence. He singled out Avila as a gem unearthed in the second round of the 2023 draft. Avila’s journey has been unconventional: he transitioned from guard to center in college, then settled at guard after the Rams traded Jonah Jackson to the Bears. Since making the positional switch full-time, Avila has emerged as one of the league’s elite linemen, starting 40 games across his three-year NFL career. Last season, he allowed only two sacks and six quarterback hits, underscoring his consistency and impact along the interior.
Dotson’s arc with the Rams has been equally compelling. He entered the league as a middling player with the Pittsburgh Steelers but blossomed after he joined Los Angeles ahead of the 2023 campaign. Since arriving, Dotson has appeared in 45 games, anchoring the line in front of MVP-caliber quarterback Matthew Stafford. If Dotson were to reach free agency next winter, he would likely command a substantial payday, given his sustained performance and value to the Rams’ protection schemes at a pivotal position.
The recognition doesn’t end with Avila and Dotson. Former Rams guard Jonah Jackson earned a nod by appearing on Verderame’s list as part of a Chicago pairing with Joe Thuney that ranked No. 2, a testament to the Rams’ track record of identifying interior talent who can perform at a high level when given the opportunity. Jackson’s success in conjunction with Thuney in Chicago serves as an additional data point illustrating the Rams’ ability to spot and develop potential interior stars.
Avila and Dotson were both brought to L.A. through different routes: Avila was a second-round pick in the 2023 draft, while Dotson joined the team that same offseason via a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Both players are entering the final year of their current contracts, with impending free agency on the horizon alongside fellow interior linemen Coleman Shelton and Warren McClendon Jr. This looming contract landscape adds a layer of intrigue to the Rams’ ongoing assessment of their line’s long-term future, even as the current unit demonstrates high-caliber performance.
In summary, the Rams’ method of prioritizing development and discovery of interior linemen has paid dividends, culminating in a guard tandem that many observers regard as among the best in the league. Avila’s rapid ascent from a college guard to a premier NFL interior blocker and Dotson’s transformation into a durable, reliable protector for Stafford have solidified the Rams’ interior as a cornerstone of their offense. As the team eyes the next chapters of contention, this duo stands as a prime example of the franchise’s forward-thinking approach to building a competitive, cohesive offensive line from within, rather than relying solely on blockbuster signings or top-tier draft selections. This narrative was originally published on Rams Wire, highlighting how Rams’ guard tandem has evolved into one of the NFL’s top units and how the team’s interior strategy contributes to its ongoing championship aspirations.