Some were surprised when the Washington Commanders selected Penn State wide receiver Jahan Dotson at No. 16 overall in the 2022 NFL draft. Washington had always Dotson high on its board and to move down five spots in the first round, add two additional selections and still land a player it loved was a win for the Commanders.
After the draft, head coach Ron Rivera and general manager Martin Mayhew discussed Dotson. Rivera compared the 5-foot-11, 178-pound Dotson to a pair of NFL greats in DeSean Jackson and Steve Smith. Jackson has spent 14 seasons in the NFL and played last season for the Raiders. Smith a 16-year NFL veteran, retired after the 2016 season with 1,031 career receptions. Rivera coached Smith for three seasons.
Washington fans know Jackson quite well. He played three seasons in Washington, two of which he went over 1,000 yards, and spent most of his career with the rival Philadelphia Eagles.
For fans who didn’t know a lot about Dotson, those were certainly exciting comparisons.
Last week, Dotson chatted with another former NFL great, Santana Moss. Moss played 14 seasons in the NFL, including his final 10 with Washington.
In the interview on Commanders.com, via Zach Selby, Dotson spoke of those Jackson comparisons.
“I watched a lot of DeSean Jackson growing up,” Dotson said. “He wasn’t very big in stature, but he made it happen.”
Growing up in Pennsylvania, Dotson was very familiar with Jackson, one of the greatest deep threats in NFL history. Washington fans would be thrilled if Dotson turned into the next Moss. The former first-round pick by the Jets in 2001, finished his NFL career with 732 receptions, 66 touchdowns and four 1,000-yard seasons. And Moss rarely had consistent quarterback play throughout his terrific career.
Dotson’s size and skill-set are reminiscent of each of the aforementioned players. Dotson is capable of playing outside or in the slot and is an outstanding route-runner, who also possesses great speed.
Commanders’ fans should be excited about the duo of Dotson and Terry McLaurin.