Steelers starters who desperately need to be replaced in 2023
By Tommy Jaggi
Kevin Dotson is too high-variance at left guard
Like Dan Moore, Kevin Dotson is another player in which I was fine with the pick, but I don’t like the role. As a former mid-fourth-round pick, Dotson shouldn’t have to be an NFL starter. If he were a swing guard, he’d probably be one of the best in his role in the NFL. However, he just isn’t meeting the standard as a full-time starter.
In addition to being nicked up one with nagging injury after the next for most of his career so far, Dotson is just too high-variance. There are times when he can play like one of the better guards in the league and times when his sloppy technique proves to be downright detrimental to the team. We’ve seen this often in 2022.
Dotson looks the part. He’s barrel-chested with long arms and good core strength. However, if he hasn’t figured it out by now, I’m not sure that he will. The Lousianna-Lafeyette prospect was already on the older side coming out, and he’s 26 years old and in just his third season.
At this point, the potential ‘upside’ doesn’t outweigh the risk. He’s a high-variance starter who should be replaced if the Steelers can find an upgrade at left guard.