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Penn State football: Where NFL Draft experts expect Jahan Dotson to land

IMG_1698 5 (1)by:David Eckert•01/11/22•

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Jahan Dotson carries the ball against Maryland. Photo Credit: BWI/Steve Manuel

The top of the draft order is set and the college season is over, so Penn State Nittany Lions and other top pro prospects are about to feature prominently in mock draft season.

Wideout Jahan Dotson is rated by many among the top wide receiver prospects heading into the 2022 draft. Before his Pro Day or the NFL Combine — where Penn Staters tend to perform well — some analysts already have him listed as a first-round pick.

Dotson finished the 2021 season with 92 receptions for 1,182 yards and 13 total touchdowns in 12 games.

Let’s take a look at where some draft prognosticators have him slotted.

Pro Football Focus: 21st overall, New England Patriots

Michael Renner of Pro Football Focus tabs Dotson to go in the second half of the first round, which would give the Nittany Lions first-round picks in back-to-back drafts.

Renner touted Dotson’s “shifty” route-running ability and catch radius as two factors that could influence his draft stock. He also noted that “shoddy” quarterback play from Penn State this season could have influenced Dotson’s numbers.

New England is in need of a No. 1 wideout for rookie QB Mac Jones, and Dotson would certainly add some dynamism to the current group of wideouts that includes Jakobi Meyers, Kendrick Bourne and Nelson Agholor.

View the full mock draft here.

Bleacher Report: 18th overall, New Orleans Saints

Bleacher Report is another media outlet high on Dotson’s draft prospects.

Their latest mock draft has him joining Blake Gillikin and Juwan Johnson in New Orleans, which also desperately needs wide receiver help. The Saints nearly scraped into the playoffs in 2021 despite relying on Marquez Callaway and Deonte Harris as their leading receivers. With Michael Thomas’s future uncertain after he didn’t play this season, Dotson could be an excellent fit.

Bleacher Report listed his route running and ability to beat press coverage as two of Dotson’s strengths.

View the full mock draft here

CBS Sports: 28th overall, Tampa Bay Buccanneers

Josh Edwards of CBS Sports listed Dotson as the fifth wideout off the board in the first round.

Interestingly enough, Edwards speculated that Dotson could act as a replacement for fellow Penn State alumnus Chris Godwin, who is a free agent this offseason. Certainly, there are worse situations to walk into as a rookie than catching passes from Tom Brady.

Edwards likes Dotsons “ability to win at all three levels” and listed his speed as a major plus, too.

View the full mock draft here

Walter Football: 34th overall, Detroit Lions

Walter Football has Dotson going just outside of the first round to the Detroit Lions.

Amon-Ra St. Brown emerged late in the season for Detroit, but the Lions are certainly in need of more weapons for quarterback Jared Goff.

There’s a sizable contingent of former Nittany Lions in the Motor City as well, with Jason Cabinda and Amani Oruwariye currently on the roster.

View the full mock draft here

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