Washington Commanders select Penn State wide receiver Jahan Dotson in 2022 NFL Draft

After a successful four-year career with the Penn State Nittany Lions, wide receiver Jahan Dotson is finally off to the big leagues. The Washington Commanders drafted Dotson with the No. 16 overall pick in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft on Thursday.

The Commanders need a speedy, inside/outside wide receiver and that’s what they’ll get with the Big Ten standout from Nazareth, Penn. The 5-foot-11, 178-pound wideout ran a blistering 4.43-second 40-yard dash and is coming off of his best season yet with 1,182 yards and 12 scores. For his 91-reception performance as a senior, he earned third-team Associated Press All-American and second-team All-Big Ten accolades.

In Jahan Dotson, the Commanders are also getting a skilled return man. As a junior, he posted 197 yards on eight returns with one punt returned for a touchdown.

In the midst of the 2020 season, Dotson revealed his philosophy as a wide receiver:

“I approach that (ball) as a million dollars. It’s a million dollars in the air. If you want it, you go get it.”

Dotson initially committed to UCLA coming out of high school as a four-star prospect. He was the No. 196 player in the country, according to the On3 Consensus, and ultimately decided to stay close to home with the Nittany Lions.

What NFL draft analysts are saying about Jahan Dotson

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein broke down what Dotson can bring to the NFL in his recent scout of the wide receiver’s draft profile.

The prospect analyst credited Dotson for his speed and “juice,” however, he also mentioned concerns over his physicality for the next level.

“Finesse wideout with good speed and great athleticism who is fully operational on all three levels of the field,” Zierlein wrote. “Dotson’s passing scheme was well-designed and allowed for clear access to space for most of the season. His route-running is smooth but features speed changes and his in-air athleticism and ball skills look effortless. His confidence and competitiveness are just average against physical coverage and he’s likely to see a lot more press looks as a pro. Dotson has inside/outside starting talent but a lack of physicality could prevent him from taking over games at the same rate we saw at Penn State.”