Washington Commanders: Jahan Dotson primed for second-year jump

Jahan Dotson could take a second-year leap for the Washington Commanders

The Washington Commanders selected wide receiver Jahan Dotson with the 16th overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft. In his first season in the NFL, Dotson impressed. The Penn State product reeled in 35 catches for 523 yards and seven touchdowns in 12 games.

Beyond just a good season, there were plenty of reasons to believe that Dotson could take massive steps forward in the future. He missed time in 2022, so there’s an obvious way to improve his numbers. Most important, though, was the quarterback situation.

Last season, Washington didn’t have the most inspiring quarterbacks. Carson Wentz started the year, with Taylor Heinicke getting most of the playing time in the end. It wasn’t until Week 18 that rookie Sam Howell got a look (and turned some heads).

Dotson caught three passes for 72 yards that game. His third-highest yard total that season.

Howell now entered the 2023 preseason as the starting quarterback. And in Week 1, the two hooked up for a touchdown.

Admittedly, it wasn’t the most perfect pass in the world. That made it all that more impressive, though. Dotson made an acrobatic catch. Not only was it a good catch, but wow, was it an immaculate route. The wide receiver found himself wide open thanks to a cut that left the defender looking rough.

Dotson is paired with Terry McLaurin. McLaurin is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL and someone that will take a lot of pressure off the second-year receiver. It should also give him a lot of favorable matchups.

Meanwhile, Howell is still a serious question mark. He gives Washington the type of hope they haven’t had at the quarterback position in several years, though.

With it being the Commanders’ first preseason game of the year, Dotson did not get much playing time. However, he managed to give fans a glimpse of his elite potential in that short amount of time. He finished the game with two receptions (on two targets) for 30 yards and that touchdown.

It’s getting easier to believe that Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson could become one of the best wide receiver duos we’ve seen in Washington for a long time.