Predicting which Steelers OL positions have upgraded and downgraded in 2021

Left guard: Upgrade

If there is one position I’m the most confident will be upgraded in 2021, it’s the left guard. We certainly don’t have to guess as to who will be the starter here. Kevin Dotson looked fantastic when called upon as a rookie, and many were left wondering why Matt Feiler wasn’t benched for Dotson in 2020.

Feiler wasn’t a terrible player, but he previously performed much better at right tackle than he did as a guard for the Steelers. He was the epitome of average last year, and it was hard to find too much to praise about his game.

While Dotson isn’t guaranteed to be a great player, he performed like you would expect a high draft choice if thrown into action as a rookie. The barrel-chested offensive guard has an incredible build for the position, and I believe he was overlooked during his time at Lousiana-Lafayette.

Dotson gives the Steelers a more athletic left guard who is a people mover in the run game. In terms of pass protection, he was even better last year, as Pro Football Focus graded him as the best interior pass protector in the NFL in 2020. The sky is the limit for Dotson, and I’m confident that the left guard could see a significant upgrade in 2021.