The Rams have proven to us twice that they can rebuild the line. Anxiety was high here about our line after the 2019 when the Rams didn't add any talent to it. They were a top 10 unit in 2020 and 2021. They were awful in 2022 and this current line was really good. Dotson was considered a depth trade at the time. So we've gone from nobody having any expectations for Dotson to him being a must keep above all.
Secondly, the Noteboom and higbee contracts were not overpays. Noteboom was paid like a starting left tackle which is what they saw from him in his contract season (kinda like Dotson honestly). Higbee is paid like an above average tight end which he is.
I think this would be an easier conversation if the Rams had less holes to fill. We need two corners, an edge, at least one safety, a guard, maybe another ILB, and a center. That's a lot of work to do. Given Dotson 18 million can really get in the way of that.