Mel Kiper believes Jahan Dotson would be a steal as late first-round pick

Jahan Dotson electrified college football fans week after week and ESPN’s Mel Kiper believes the former Penn State jack-of-all-trades could be one of the biggest steals in the latter portion of the first round in April’s NFL Draft.

Dotson closed out his 2021 campaign at Penn State with 91 receptions for 1,182 yards and 12 touchdowns.

“In terms of Jahan Dotson, he’s a true playmaker,” Kiper said.

“You get the ball in his hands, he can run after the catch, just a dynamic performer. If he’s there in the late first round, that would be a heck of a pick. You talk about a do-it-all player with a great attitude and a great approach to the game of football.”

While his first three years with the program were relatively quiet, Jahan Dotson busted on to the scene for Penn State in a major way last year and the entire country took notice.

In winter workouts earlier this year, Dotson made a statement by running a 4.33-second 40-yard dash. That marked the second-fastest time by a PSU wide receiver since the program began posting results in 2012, trailing only former teammate KJ Hamler’s 4.27.

Dotson followed that up with an outstanding regular season on the field. Despite inconsistent play by the Penn State quarterbacks, he became the only Power 5 receiver with at least 90 receptions (91), 1,180 yards (1,182) and 12 touchdown receptions (12) through 12 games. He also rushed for a touchdown and completed a pair of passes for 43 yards.

Kiper continued to talk about Dotson’s impact specifically to the Nittany Lions in 2021 and then the ESPN NFL Draft expert made a bold prediction to where he may land.

“James Franklin can’t say enough good things about Jahan Dotson and what he meant to this Penn State program,” Kiper added. “The acrobatic catches, the ability to do dynamic things with the ball in his hands, the ability to change the whole game with just one play in terms of the attitude of the entire PSU football team. The ability to ignite enthusiasm and get that team rolling. He was able to do that, and if he’s there for Kansas City in the late first round, and I think they will be there, it would be a good fit.”

Patrick Mahomes is coming to a crossroads where his bevy of weapons may begin to thin, so it’s easy to see why Kiper could see Dotson’s bevy of traits being a perfect fit for Andy Reid and the Chiefs in the future.

Jahan Dotson could see his stock rise between now and when the selection is made.