Todd McShay: Why Penn State's Jahan Dotson is the perfect fit for the Packers

The 2022 NFL Draft is a strong class for wide receivers. There are likely to be many receivers taken in the first round, including Jahan Dotson out of Penn State. ESPN NFL Draft expert Todd McShay believes that the Green Bay Packers are a perfect fit for Dotson, and that Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers would love having Dotson in the Green Bay offense.

“At No. 22 I went with Jahan Dotson, he’s the best receiver available,” McShay said of the Packers first pick in the first round. “I think there’s a drop off after the first two receivers in Garrett Wilson and Drake London. And then that second tier to me is Chris Olave and Jameson Williams, and then the third tier is Jahan Dotson, it starts there. He had 91 catches a year ago. Everyone in the gym knows where they’re going with the football yet he still separates. Great body control and I think he has the best ball skills of any receiver in this draft. Aaron Rodgers would love this guy in the slot.”

In his latest NFL mock draft, McShay indeed had Dotson being selected by the Packers with the 22nd overall pick. Four receivers were picked before Dotson in McShay’s mock. Garrett Wilson went fourth overall and Drake London went eighth, while Chris Olave went 11th and Jameson Williams went 17th.

Dotson would be a big addition to the Packers receiver room

In the offseason, the Packers have traded star wideout Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders and lost Marquez Valdes-Scantling in free agency. Replacing that lost production will not be an easy task. Adams had 123 receptions on 169 targets for 1,553 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. Valdes-Scantling had 26 receptions on 55 targets for 430 yards and three touchdowns.

Adams is arguably the best all-around wide receiver in the NFL, and Valdes-Scantling is a dangerous deep threat down the field. Now, Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb headline the Green Bay receiving room. Lazard had 40 receptions on 60 targets last year for 513 yards and eight touchdowns. Cobb had 28 catches on 39 targets for 375 yards and five touchdowns.

While Dotson wouldn’t be able to singlehandedly solve the Packers issues at receiver, he would be a pretty good start. Last year at Penn State, Dotson had 91 receptions for 1,182 yards and 12 touchdowns, adding another score on the ground. In his four-year collegiate career, he hauled in 183 receptions for 2,757 yards and 25 touchdowns, averaging 15.1 yards per reception.

The 2022 NFL Draft begins on Thursday, April 28.