Recent history says UDFA linebacker Shaun Dolac can make the Rams roster

Les Snead shows no allegiance to draft pedigree when it comes to linebackers

Los Angeles Rams General Manager Les Snead, has appeared to change course on how much draft capital he’s willing to put into the off-ball linebacker position. Back when he was the Atlanta Falcons Player Personnel Director (2009-2011), the Birds of Prey drafted linebackers within the Top 100 in consecutive years (Sean Witherspoon #19 in 2010 and Akkem Dent #91 in 2011). In 2013, his second season as L.A. GM, Snead took Alec Ogletree at #30.

After that, It was an eight-year wait before the Rams took another linebacker within the first three rounds, Ernest Jones at #103 in 2021. From the early to mid part of that span, L.A. filled in LB#2 with tough-as-nails, hybrid safety/linebacker Mark Barron, and a cast of veteran retreads. By the time Sean McVay came aboard in 2017, Snead had zig-zagged again. Now he was stocking both LB#1 and LB#2 with late round picks and undrafted free agents (UDFA). In fact, since 2017, Rams undrafted and late round linebackers have averaged a total of 137 tackles per season. That number includes 2022 (19 tackles total), when Bobby Wagner and Ernest Jones ate up almost all the available snaps.

This year’s unit is consistent with Snead’s past 10 years, of the seven players under contract, five are from the undrafted ranks and two are Round 5 picks. Two rookies are coming aboard for 2025, Chris Paul (#172 of Rd5) and Shaun Dolac. Dolac went undrafted, but has caught the eye of many pundits and is touted as a sleeper candidate.

Meet the candidate

Shaun Dolac – Buffalo 6’ 221 lb. 30” arms 9 3/8” hands

Pro Day: 1.53/4.63 forty 6.93 shuttle 4.22 3cone 35.5” vert 10’ 1” broad 25 bench reps

It’s been an up and down football road for Dolac, from unrecruited walk-on to consensus All-American in college and finally, an undrafted NFL prospect. Although he was a star running back/linebacker in high school, no college programs came calling. He chose to spend a year at Milford Academy, a boarding school offering a post-graduate football program that prepares players for the college level. Although he was Named Defensive Player of the Year, Dolac received no scholarship offers and took a preferred walk-on tryout with the Buffalo Bulls.

It took a couple of seasons for Dolac to climb the Buffalo depth chart. In that time, the soon to be 24 year-old (September) played in 19 games with two starts before breaking out. In 2002, he totaled 147 tackles, earning ALL-MAC First team and academic honors. He considered a transfer for 2023, but remained at Buffalo. The season ended up being a let down, going out for the season with a shoulder injury after only four games. As a graduate senior in 2025, he led the nation in tackles and was named a consensus All-American. For his career, Dolac started 32 of 49 games played with 392 tackles, 40.5 for loss, 12.5 sacks, six interceptions, and 18 passes defended.

Although very small for an NFL linebacker, Dolac plays bigger on film. Some of that is the level of competition and while his frame is put together well, his play strength will need a step up for pro competition. With his short arms, right now he’s less a stack/shed defender, instead using deft moves and swipes to fight climb blocks. In spite of his arms, his tackling is generally very good with an overall 7.5% missed tackle rate. He’s reliable around the line of scrimmage and in traffic, getting into good position, putting his body onto runners, and showing the proper wrap up technique. Out in space, he’ll need to work on his angles and getting himself under control to latch onto ball carriers.

A flexible and loose-limbed athlete, Dolac shows plus short area agility, change of direction, and lateral movement. His burst, while not elite, is very good. His pursuit is madcap, constantly flying to the ball with wild abandon. His instincts and awareness are good, although eye candy and movement can be used against his aggressive style. That said, Dolac appears to have a solid grasp on what opponents will do, which clues his football IQ and film prep. He recently told The Draft Network,

“Watching film is a big part of my life (laughs). I believe I watch it on a different level from most. I’m able to decipher what the offense is doing before the snap. I recognize alignments and I see things pre-snap. It gives me a huge advantage. I anticipate what’s happening. I can read and react.”

The 2024 season added to Dolac’s versatility. In previous seasons, he played “MIKE” linebacker, the player in the middle of the second line tasked with clogging gaps and stopping the run. In his senior year, he played the “WILL” role, the move linebacker charged with often dropping into pass coverage. He responded with five interceptions and added five passes broken up. On film, you can see both his strength’s and weaknesses. He quickly gets back to his spot in zone, intently follows the quarterback and breaks quickly on underneath passes. Buffalo primarily played a Cover2 zone, but on the few man reps I was able to see, Dolac appeared to get onto his man quickly and be sticky. You can also see little things he needs to work on. By intently reading the QB, he can lose awareness of receivers, allowing them to enter his area and cross his face. Overall, he gave up a passer rating of 56.5.

One thing that stands out on film is how Dolac plays the run game, he’s a tackle machine, aggressively shooting gaps and pursuing the ball with everything he’s got. Can this physical and aggressive style translate to the NFL at his size? Moving up in competition, while an aggressive play style is certainly a good thing, it needs to be used a little more judiciously, not the primary part of your arsenal. Linemen will be much bigger, faster, and stronger than his college competition. You can see on film of where he charges in gang busters and was re-directed, just enough, to be taken out of the play.

Size and length will always be question marks for Dolac, he missed most of 2023 with a shoulder injury and finished his final season playing with a brace on his elbow. What you cannot question is his grit and production. According to Pro Football Focus, he had the highest FBS grades in overall defense, tackling, and pass coverage.

Why Dolac can earn a roster spot

The Rams willingness to put UDFAs into action at linebacker is well-documented, for better or worse. Although the Rams made additions, both rookies and veterans, to upgrade play at linebacker, the 2025 depth chart is going to be a work in progress and wide open as to how it might shake out.

Dolac checks a lot of the trait boxes in a linebacker prospect. He’s sneakily athletic, has a high football IQ, is a solid performer against both run and pass, has an aggressive demeanor, and was a highly productive college player. HIs play style and solid tackling prowess fit him onto special teams right away.

HIs shortcomings can be managed. He is is on the lighter side, but appears to have the frame to put on 8-10 lb. of good weight that would bring him up to 230+. His arm length is less a problem because he’s so good at getting his pads onto ball carriers. Learning and adapting to the pro game is always a question mark with rookies, but he has the natural instincts and work ethic to succeed.

He’s the UDFA darling of many, many football pundits, so claiming he’ll make the roster is not a revelation. It’s going to be an uphill battle, but what stands out to me is how bad he wants it. You can hear it in his interviews and see it by how he plays with a chip on his shoulder.