The Los Angeles Rams have built a reputation for finding hidden gems well after the first round of the draft. Since the Rams most recent Super Bowl title after the 2021 season, the front office in Los Angeles has made a habit out of unearthing value. In 2025, that trend looks set to continue with the emergence of linebacker Shaun Dolac, a name that may soon be on every Rams fan’s lips.
Shaun Dolac, an undrafted rookie out of the University at Buffalo, is already making waves with the Rams. While most teams hope to get a few special teams snaps out of their UDFAs, the Rams’ coaching staff is openly excited about Dolac’s potential to contribute on defense right away. According to Athlon Sports, inside linebackers coach Greg Williams has praised Dolac’s football IQ and quick study habits, saying, “Shaun could probably take you out there and teach you the defense right now. He really is a quick study, and that’s one thing you respect from him.”
Dolac’s impressive start in the NFL has drawn comparisons to other value finds such as Puka Nacua. Nacua also got off to a quick start for the Rams and emerged as a legitimate star. Dolac has a long way to go to reach that mark but the early signs are promising.
What makes Dolac’s rise even more remarkable is how his college production stacks up against the 2025 draft’s top linebacker prospects. When compared to first and second-rounders like Jihaad Campbell, Carson Schwesinger, and Demetrius Knight, Dolac’s grades aren’t just competitive—they’re superior in almost every category (data courtesy of Pro Football Focus, or PFF).
- Overall Grade: Dolac outperformed all three, even after accounting for the difference in competition level that the four rookies faced.
- Run Defense & Tackling: He posted higher run defense and tackling grades than his drafted peers, showing a nose for the football and a knack for finishing plays.
- Pass Rush & Coverage: Even in pass rush and coverage, Dolac either matched or exceeded the top picks, with only Schwesinger edging him slightly in pass rush grade.
The only knock against Dolac is the level of competition he faced at Buffalo. But even after applying a “competition haircut” of 10-15% to his numbers, Dolac still compares favorably to players drafted much higher.
Skeptics might wonder if Dolac’s 2024 campaign was a fluke. The data says otherwise. Over his last three seasons at Buffalo, Dolac improved every year, posting high grades across the board. In 2022, he earned an 81 overall grade and a 78.8 coverage grade. By 2023, his run defense grade soared to 85.9, and he maintained a tackling grade near 79. This steady performance helps mitigate any concerns about Dolac’s potential prospects.
On top of the analytics, Dolac proved himself to be an impact playmaker at Buffalo. In 2024, he racked up five interceptions, a number that outpaces even elite college corners like Travis Hunter. To be fair, no one is saying Dolac is as good or even comparable to the Heismann trophy winner. The main takeaway is that Dolac’s production and analytics are much more indicative of a top star as opposed to a linebacker that went undrafted.
The Rams’ knack for finding value isn’t limited to Dolac. Even in this past draft, they nabbed Chris Paul Jr. in the fifth round, a player already considered a massive value. In fact, many observes declared Paul a candidate to be the “steal of the draft” for the Rams. But when you compare Dolac’s analytics to Paul’s, Dolac comes out ahead in every major category, from overall grade to run defense, tackling, pass rush, and coverage. For a player who wasn’t even drafted, there just isn’t a comparison that looks unfavorable.
Of course, Dolac isn’t a finished product. He may be a touch undersized for the NFL and will need to continue developing physically. But his instincts, production, and football intelligence have already caught the attention of the Rams’ coaching staff. With a strong training camp and preseason, Dolac has a real shot to not only make the 53-man roster but to earn meaningful snaps on defense in 2025.
Disclaimer: The content of this article was originally published as a YouTube video on the Saturday Morning Inspection YouTube channel. With AI assistance, the publisher of the video created this article based on the content of that video.
