In yet another highly impressive draft class of wide receivers, one playmaker who I regard as a first-round talent has gotten lost in the shuffle: Penn State’s 5’11 184 lb. Jahan Dotson, who was named First-Team All-Big Ten in 2021. What he lacks in size he makes up with dynamic athleticism and top-tier route-running. Let’s dive into the tape to find out why I think Dotson will be a steal at the turn of rounds 1 and 2 in the 2022 NFL Draft!
Strengths: Dotson is a quick, dynamic receiver with great route-running skills that makes good use of his high-level athletic traits. Dotson is highly experienced and adept against press coverage. His brisk, crafty releases set defenders up in the first five yards, and he has the burst to create early separation out of his release. Dotson is a great route runner who consistently gains separation by deceiving defenders with his quick, crisp routes at all three levels of the field. He excels at working the middle of the field, consistently uncovering within ten yards and showing great toughness to reliably catch through contact. Dotson is a serious deep threat as well, with good speed to win vertically. As his route-running suggests, Dotson shows to be an intelligent football player who finds soft spots in coverage, gets open late for his scrambling quarterback, and tracks the football with great awareness. He is a very bouncy athlete with impressive leaping ability, which expands his catch radius and allows him to adjust very well to off-target passes. Dotson’s hands are highly reliable and natural, and he consistently plucks the ball out of the air. He catches in stride and turns upfield to gain extra yardage in the same motion. After the catch, Dotson is shifty and quick to extend the play before going down. Dotson’s route tree is expansive and he has shown the ability to win on many types of routes, which bodes well for his transition to the NFL. His versatility will also be highly appreciated since he is fully experienced and excels both in the slot and on the perimeter. As an added bonus, Dotson can throw the football accurately on trick plays.
Weaknesses: Dotson really lacks size, possessing a slim frame that might not be able to pack on much more weight. As a result, while his leaping ability is impressive, he will never be the type of receiver relied upon to secure 50/50 balls. Dotson doesn’t break many tackles and often goes down on first contact. He does not offer much as a blocker either. Dotson can be slowed by route contact at times, though not often given his toughness. Dotson’s thin frame may also pose durability issues in the NFL, though he has fared well with staying on the field in college.
Bottom Line: Dotson is a really intriguing receiver prospect who I am quite a fan of. He can line up inside or outside, threaten vertically or move the chains across the middle of the field, and is already highly experienced and skilled at beating press and running an expansive route tree. Dotson wins primarily with his route running, as he uses his shiftiness and quickness to run crisp, deceptive routes that allow him to gain separation at all three levels. His ceiling is limited by a lack of size that keeps him out of jump ball situations and decreases his tackle-breaking ability, but Dotson has the chance to have an immediate impact in the NFL and evolve into a true WR1 in the NFL.
Grade: 1.7 (mid-late first-round grade)
Sources
- Cover Image: https://nittanysportsnow.com/2021/12/jahan-dotson-declares-for-nfl-draft/
