The Pittsburgh Steelers have wrapped up training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, and will head back to Pittsburgh's South Side for the rest of their offseason practices and workouts. With an impressive opening preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Steelers fans have a lot to look forward to in 2023.
Douglas DeFelice / Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers offense takes the field in their first preseason game of 2023 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa, FL.
Steelers second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett and the entire offense silenced the critics early on as they marched down the field on the 10-play, 83-yard drive that resulted in a 33-yard touchdown from Pickett to the second-year receiver, George Pickens.
Pickens wasn't the only receiver who had a standout game, second-year receiver Calvin Austin III made his mark when he hauled in a 67-yard touchdown pass from Mason Rudolph in the third quarter.
It wasn't only the offense that put on a show for the Steelers fans in attendance however, as newcomer Kwon Alexander and rookie edge rusher Nick Herbig also showed that they will add key depth and big playmaking ability on the defensive side of the ball. Herbig recorded three tackles and 1.5 sacks in his first NFL action and showed he will give the Steelers depth at the outside linebacker spot.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers linebacker Kwon Alexander jumped right in to start training with his new team at Saint Vincent College shortly after putting pen to paper on a contract.
Although much stock can't be put into the first game of the preseason against a Buccaneers team who had a handful of playmakers sitting out, it was exhilarating to see the Steelers starters put on a near-flawless performance.
Another positive to take from last Friday's game was that there were no glaring holes on either side of the ball. The Steelers front office invested a lot this offseason in both free agency and the NFL Draft to fill the areas on the depth chart that were clear issues in 2022 and were areas that quite possibly kept them from playing postseason football last January.
The biggest investment the front office made this offseason was revamping the offensive line, a unit that saw improvement over the course of the 2023 season. The improvements that were made last season on the field were not enough for General Manager Omar Khan and the Steelers made a key effort in free agency and the draft to bolster the offensive line.
The front office didn't shy away from looking at the offensive guard position as a key area of improvement this offseason. The Steelers signed both Isaac Seumalo and Nate Herbig to the team in free agency. Seumalo was one of the most sought-after guards in the entire 2023 free agency class. Over the span of his seven-year career in the NFL, he has started 60 games (40 games at left guard, 19 at right guard, and one at right tackle).
Both Herbig and Seumalo signed multi-year deals with the Steelers this offseason and with James Daniels as another appealing option at guard who started all 17 games last season, it is likely that Kevin Dotson is the odd-man-out when looking at the depth chart for the Steelers heading into this season.
-544x306.jpg "Steelers OG Kevin Dotson")
JORDAN SCHOFIELD / STEELERNATION.COM (x: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers offensive guard Kevin Dotson (69) against the New York Jets.
Dotson did see the field last Friday night in Tampa Bay and logged 16 snaps on offense. He virtually split time at both left and right guard (nine snaps at left guard and seven at right). Unfortunately, what lies ahead for Dotson with the Steelers in 2023 isn't very promising. He will not be in the starting lineup when the Steelers take on the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1 and it will seem like a long shot for him to see the field at all this upcoming season.
The lack of versatility is what's hurting Dotson. Both Herbig and Daniels have experience playing both guard and center in the NFL along with Steelers seventh-round pick Spencer Anderson getting reps at center, offensive guard and tackle. With the likelihood of Dotson riding the bench this season, would the Steelers be better off trading him?
What Would The Steelers Get In Return If They Trade Dotson?
Dotson has played a key part in the offensive line in years past. Since being the Steelers' fourth-round selection in 2020, Dotson has appeared in 39 games, starting 30 of those. He allowed four sacks in 2022 which had him tied for 14th in the NFL in that category.
Although there is no such thing as too much depth at any position on the offensive line, it would be in the Steelers' best interest to shop him around prior to the start of the 2023 season.
With his rookie contract being up at the end of the year, it is unlikely that we see Dotson return to the Steelers in 2024, so getting a late-round (Day 3) draft pick in return for him might be the best option for the team moving forward.
His inconsistent play and lack of progress made over the course of his three seasons in the NFL make it hard to find much playing time with an offensive line that has received massive upgrades. The lack of playing time that lies ahead for Dotson means his stock has reached its ceiling with the black and gold.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (x: @JSKO_PHOTO)
What do you think? Should the Steelers trade away Dotson for a late-round pick in 2024? Or would you rather have the depth on the offensive line? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section below!
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