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Prospect Preview: Jahan Dotson
College: Penn State
Height: 5’ 10”
Weight: 178
Age: 21
247 Rating: 0.9228 (4 Stars)
By: Nate Christian (@NateNFL)
The Rundown:
One of the top playmakers in college football over the past two years, Jahan Dotson comes into the NFL Draft as an elite talent but with a couple question marks surrounding his size and translatable profile. The transition to the pros can be hard for many, but if the talent is there then the talent is there. Dotson has that talent and will be an undervalued asset come Draft Day.
College Production:
College production is hard to come by when Sean Clifford is your quarterback, yet Dotson made it happen. In 2020, his junior season, he caught 52 passes for 884 yards and 8 touchdowns. That season he showed some flashed of greatness and was an early sleeper for the 2022 NFL Draft. In 2021, he shed the sleeper label and became one of the best in the country with 91 receptions for 1,182 yards and 12 touchdowns. I was lucky enough to see Dotson live this season when he played my hometown Maryland Terps. In that game Dotson pulled in 11 catches for 242 yards and 3 touchdowns, nearly single-handedly leading his team to the victory.
Strengths:
- Speed- I told Steve (our editor) that this article was going to be a little late, and while I did have some life events that slowed me down by a couple hours, I also wanted to have Dotson’s official 40 time for this piece. He ended up running an unofficial 4.41 and it shows on the tape. He’s got the game-changing speed that teams are going to drool over.
- The “It” Factor- In 2021, nine out of Dotson’s 12 touchdowns were from 20+ yards out, and not all of them were just deep shots down the field. Dotson has great YAC ability to make people miss and get down the field with the ball in his hands. He’s truly an electric player and was the main offensive weapon for Penn State these past two years.
- WR Profile- Not just a plus-athlete, Dotson is a solid receiver who will translate to the NFL well. He has some of the best hands in the class and holds his own in contested catch situations down-the-field. He’s got a great release off the line with very quick feet that help him gain leverage within the first few steps. A player that can create a lot of separation, Dotson is going to be a promising prospect for a lot of NFL teams.
Weaknesses:
- Strength- Likely his biggest weakness, Dotson doesn’t have great play strength, which is almost to be expected at his size. He’s not going to push around cornerbacks, and gain that physical edge against defenders. What he lacks in strength he makes up for in speed, but this could limit his usage as he finds his role at the next level.
- Inside/Outside?- Dotson played both inside and outside at the college level, and projecting forward many think he’ll be limited to the slot at the next level. While I do think the slot would be his best fit, I also see no reason why he can’t play outside at the Z position just like many other good route runners his size.
- Size- With Dotson being (slightly) under 180 pounds, there are going to be some people out there that doubt his chances of being a top WR in the NFL. I’m here to tell you it doesn’t matter. He’s about the same size as Diontae Johnson ($1,070,241), Brandin Cooks ($16,200,000), and Tyler Lockett ($10,250,000), all who clearly have not had any issues with playing in the NFL. The talent is there, and that’s what matters.
Things to Watch:
This segment should almost be named “Things to Have Watched”, because you should have watched his 40-yard dash by now. Coming into the NFL combine, Dotson was up near the top of the list for projected 40-yard dash times and he came through with a great run at an unofficial 4.41. He posted an impressive 36” vertical and will likely have a great 3-cone drill. Dotson has had a great draft process so far and I expect the media to keep up with it. He will be one of the more exciting players in the lead up to this year’s draft, so be ready for more good news at his pro day.
Projected Round/Contract:
I believe that Dotson is going to find his way into the end of the 1st round come Draft Day, and a team is going to be very happy to scoop him up. I’m thinking there’s a nice sweet spot for him around the end of the 20’s which means he’ll get a nice contract around $3,000,000 a year and that 5th year option for whomever is lucky enough to draft him.
Team Fits:
At the end of the first round, the team that immediately sticks out to me is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. If Chris Godwin ($15,983,000) leaves in free agency, the Bucs can replace one Penn State receiver with another. Next to Mike Evans ($16,500,000), Dotson would have CB2 coverage and would be able to provide a great compliment to the physical style that Evans brings to the table. The biggest question mark here though is the who will be throwing the ball from under center, as that picture is still very murky for Tampa Bay going forward.
Another team that is screaming for a playmaker like Dotson, are the New England Patriots. Right now, they lack a true WR1 (sorry, Jakobi) and Dotson would provide not only someone the offense can rely on, but his ability to create separation all over the field would mesh well with Mac Jones ($3,896,588) and his style of quarterback play. This could be a match made in heaven, with serious potential for fantasy football. Gone are the days of looking for the next Calvin Johnson, Andre Johnson, and Vincent Jackson. Now we look for the PPR magnets who can handle the focus of their offense and be productive. Jahan Dotson fits that mold.