Jahan Dotson, Aaron Rodgers could make recent Green Bay Packers history

Jahan Dotson broke on to the college football scene in 2021 and became the catalyst for the Penn State offense, putting together a remarkable third season where he was finally given the opportunity to show the world — and NFL talent evaluators — his unique skillset and versatility.

In a recent ESPN special highlighting NFL draft experts Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr., McShay offered an interesting scenario that he’s penciled into his latest mock draft due to recent developments in Green Bay.

As McShay went through all of his updated projections for his mock draft, he came to the No. 28 selection that belongs to the Packers.

“And then finally, Green Bay,” McsShay said as the hour long special neared its end.

“Aaron Rodgers is back, Davante Adams is back. Let’s just keep it rolling, right? For the first time in Aaron Rodgers’ history in the NFL, let’s get him a first-round wide receiver. Jahan Dotson ran a 4.43 at the combine and was disappointed. He’s dynamic and he’s quick.”

McShay then made a bold statement about the Nittany Lions star, considering he has several ultra-talented receivers ahead of the PSU star. USC’s Drake London, the Ohio State duo of Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, Alabama deep threat specialist Jameson Williams and Arkansas WR Treylon Burks all slotted to be selected ahead of Dotson in the most recent version of his mock draft since new developments in the league have shaken things up.

“He’s an undersized slot wide receiver but he has the best ball skills of any wide receiver in this class. He would be a perfect match for Aaron Rodgers.”

“He is a human joy stick at wide receiver,” Field Yates, who covers the NFL and hosted the special said of Jahan Dotson.

Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams are clearly one of the best tandems in the league, but in today’s NFL, it’s almost vital to have a jack-of-all trades playmaker who can thrive in the slot but also give Matt LaFleur and the Packers’ offensive staff a versatile weapon to use creatively.

Here’s the writeup from McShay, which echoes a lot of what he said in the television special but provides further insight into why Green Bay should select Jahan Dotson in the first round.

“Marquez Valdes-Scantling is a free agent, and Rodgers could use another receiver he trusts with proven playmaking ability,” McShay wrote. “Dotson is undersized at 5-foot-11 and 178 pounds, but he has speed (4.43 in the 40-yard dash), suddenness (36 inches in the vertical jump) and great ball skills (91 catches in 2021). He could be a true possession receiver to complement Adams, who was franchise-tagged on Tuesday.”

Last month, Kiper agreed with his colleague and raved about Dotson. But Kiper took his praise a step further, noting the dynamic skillset the Penn State wideout brings, while viewing him as a “do-it-all-player” who can step in and start immediately at the next level.

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.

Jahan 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.”