Rams can’t afford to let this player off roster after NFL debut

The Rams were highly impressive in Week 1 of the preseason despite not playing any starters on either side of the ball. It was a dominant performance and showed the depth of the roster going into the 2025 season. But there was one underrated player who starred on Saturday night, who officially has the attention of the coaching staff and front office.

Shaun Dolac led the Rams in defensive snaps (48, according to Pro Football Focus), and he was impossible to miss. The undrafted linebacker from Buffalo finished the game with six tackles and two run stops as he was all over the field for the Rams. All of a sudden, the Rams have an excess of linebacker talent, and Dolac is now firmly in the hunt to make the final 53-man roster.

Shaun Dolac is giving Sean McVay an impossible decision at linebacker

While Dolac doesn’t have great NFL size or speed, he is a proven playmaker. During his final season at Buffalo, he led the MAC in solo tackles (82), assisted tackles (86), tackles for a loss (19), and interceptions (5). He was an All-American selection and was one of the best players in the country, but he was not invited to the NFL Combine and fell completely out of the draft.

And yet, he still is making plays for the Rams in the preseason, and his performance against the Cowboys was enough to help him prove that he belongs on the 53-man roster. But the issue for Dolac is that the Rams do have depth at linebacker, and Troy Reeder sat out on Saturday night, which might indicate that he is already a lock to make the roster.

Dolac would need to beat out Reeder or Chris Paul Jr. for the final spot on the roster, but there is also a chance that the Rams could carry five inside linebackers and not expose the undrafted free agent to waivers. If Dolac continues to play at this level throughout the rest of the preseason, the Rams might not have a choice but to keep him on the active roster.

Keep a close eye on Dolac over the next two preseason games as his performance in those contests will likely decide his future in Los Angeles. But so far, so good for the undrafted free agent out of Buffalo.