The Pittsburgh Steelers shocked many when they decided to trade guard Kevin Dotson to the Los Angeles Rams for a draft pick swap for the next two years. After all, Dotson has been a mainstay along the offensive line since he was drafted in 2020.

Surprised or not by the trade, these type of organizational decisions have a ripple effect for the rest of the roster. The more I thought about it, the more I found three players who benefitted the most from Dotson heading west to be a part of the Rams organization.

Kendrick Green

This one is obvious considering Dotson being retained would have resulted in an uphill battle for Green to make the 53-man roster. There is a chance Green is still on the outside looking in as cuts quickly approach, but his overall chances to odds of making the team have increased dramatically after the trade. Throw in the fact Green has position flexibility, something Dotson didn’t have, is a huge help for him making this regular season roster. Just a quick note, position flexibility doesn’t necessarily mean Green is a great option at either position where he is showing flexibility.

Nate Herbig

The Dotson meant a lot for Nate Herbig on multiple levels. First, it meant the shoulder injury which Herbig sustained during training camp isn’t going to threaten his ability to be ready for the regular season. On top of that, it means they liker Herbig more than Dotson, hence why they were willing to ship Dotson to L.A. All in all, good news for Herbig as he starts a season with his third NFL franchise.

Spencer Anderson

Anderson was thought by many, including me, to be an after thought and a practice squad hopeful when he was drafted out of Maryland in the 7th Round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Nonetheless, Anderson’s genuine position flexibility, being able to play every position along the line, screams Kelvin Beachum. If you recall, Beachum didn’t just play for the Steelers early in his career, but turned his success into a lengthy NFL career. With Dotson gone it boosts Anderson’s chances at making the 53-man roster tremendously.

BONUS:

Fringe Wide Receivers

I know I said 3 players, but I wanted to also include how the Dotson trade has a ripple effect outside the offensive line. When you consider how Dotson impacts the number of players kept on the line, it also impacts how many players are kept at other positions. One of those positions is wide receiver. An argument could be made the team was going to keep just 5 wide receivers on the roster, but with Dotson out of the mix it seems more likely they keep 6. This is good news for players like Miles Boykin and Gunner Olszewski to get a shot at the 53-man roster. Whoever the Steelers like better on special teams will likely result in who is kept, and who is left looking for a new NFL home.

What do you think of the players who benefitted the most from the Dotson trade? Let us know in the comment section below, and be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1 of the regular season.