Todd McShay points to underrated aspect of Jahan Dotson's NFL skillset

Penn State’s Jahan Dotson could become one of the top wide receivers taken in the 2022 NFL Draft. Dotson is coming off of a remarkable season at Penn State, and he has opened the eyes of many NFL Draft experts.

ESPN’s Todd McShay is one of those experts that is very high on Dotson as April’s draft approaches.

“With Dotson, he’s an interesting watch,” McShay said when evaluating how he will translate to the NFL. “I really like this guy, I love his body control. And I think that’s so important as a receiver. We always talk about the speed and the length, and I get he’s only 5’11, 185 pounds. I think he’s gonna run in the 4.4s. He has plenty of speed, but what I love about him is everything you watch, he’s like a great point guard in the NBA.

“He’s completely under control, even though he’s so quick and in and out of his brakes. When the ball is coming to him, the way he’s able to adjust and contort his body, you see the stats. 91 catches this past year. And for an undersized guy, you’re worried, well is he going to be a red zone weapon? Can he get in the end zone? He had 12 receiving touchdowns.”

Dotson caught 13 passes for 203 yards as a freshman in 2018. In 2019, he had 27 receptions for 488 yards and five touchdowns. During the 2020 season, Dotson had his best year yet, hauling in 52 catches for 884 yards and eight touchdowns. This past season, he had 91 receptions for 1,182 yards and 12 touchdowns, adding another score on the ground.

Dotson could sneak into the first round of the NFL Draft

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah ranks Dotson as the 27th best prospect in the 2022 NFL Draft. ESPN’s Mel Kiper has Dotson rated as the 22nd overall prospect.

For Kiper, Dotson slides right in after the first group of receivers available in the draft.

“So I think Dotson in a loaded wide receiver group, we’ve talked about the Ohio State receivers, Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, you’ve got Drake London coming out of USC who’s going to be a great player, could be the first receiver off the board. Jameson Williams… I still think he’s a first rounder because he’s got the explosive speed coming out of Alabama. But Dotson, to me, is right there after those first four guys and I would take him as the fifth receiver,” McShay said. “And I think he belongs somewhere in that late first round range.”

Treylon Burks out of Arkansas is another wide receiver that figures to be taken around the same time as Dotson. But as he continues to prepare for the NFL, Dotson is definitely opening some eyes.