Commanders select Penn State WR Jahan Dotson with No. 16 pick

Jahan Dotson is the primary choose of the Commanders period.

On Thursday evening, Washington secured the Penn State large receiver with the sixteenth total choose within the 2022 NFL Draft after buying and selling again from their authentic slot at No. 11.

Dotson, who had 91 catches for 1,182 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Nittany Lions final 12 months, rounds out a receiving corps that additionally consists of Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel, Cam Sims and 2021 third-round choose Dyami Brown, amongst others. 

McLaurin is definitely a fan of the choice, as he hasn’t gotten a ton of assist from different wideouts in current seasons, and quarterback Carson Wentz ought to approve, too, as a result of Dotson is one other respectable goal to depend on in 2022.

Dotson excels most in open house, the place he can activate his pace and depart defenders with solely a view of the again of his uniform. Ten of his 21 profession receiving touchdowns at college have been for greater than 40 yards. He is additionally an adept punt returner, one thing the Commanders might actually use.

He’s not only a deep menace, although. The 22-year-old can also be very dependable together with his arms within the quick and intermediate areas and infrequently commits a drop. 

Dotson is the primary offensive participant that Ron Rivera has chosen within the first spherical throughout his stint with Washington. The coach went with cross rusher Chase Younger in 2020 and linebacker Jamin Davis in 2021.

It’ll now be on Dotson to justify Rivera’s alternative and make his new unit extra dynamic and, finally, extra conversant in the tip zone.