The Washington Commanders are parting ways with one of their recent first-round selections. The team has traded wide receiver Jahan Dotson and a fifth-round draft pick to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a third-round pick and two seventh-round picks. The Eagles confirmed the transaction on Thursday morning.
This decision follows an announcement by head coach Dan Quinn, who stated that multiple players, including Dotson, were vying for the No. 2 wide receiver position behind Terry McLaurin. Dotson’s lack of standout performance, despite his notable draft status, hinted that such a trade might be on the horizon.
During his two seasons with Washington, Dotson recorded 35 receptions for 523 yards and seven touchdowns in his first year, followed by 49 catches for 517 yards and four touchdowns in his second season. His average yards per reception, yards per game, target rate, and yards per route run saw a decline in his second year, according to statistics from Tru Media.
With Dotson now gone, Washington is expected to look to third-round pick Luke McCaffrey, Olamide Zaccheaus, and Dyami Brown to fill the wide receiver roles behind McLaurin. Additionally, No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels will have tight ends Zach Ertz and rookie Ben Sinnott, along with running backs Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler, among his receiving options.
On the other hand, the Eagles see this trade as an opportunity to revive what made Dotson a first-round pick, and they are doing so at a relatively low cost. The Eagles have been in search of a reliable No. 3 receiver to complement A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. They had previously signed DeVante Parker, who retired before playing a game for the team. The Eagles have struggled with production from their wide receivers beyond Brown and Smith, and adding Dotson could help address that issue.
In terms of evaluating the trade:
Commanders: D-
This trade is clearly a setback for Washington. Dotson, drafted in the first round just two years ago, had two disappointing seasons, but he also lacked a strong quarterback connection during that time. Receiving only a pick swap and a couple of seventh-rounders in return is a significant letdown.
Eagles: B
While the Eagles are acquiring Dotson, he is not guaranteed to emerge as a successful No. 3 wide receiver, given his modest NFL production despite a strong college career. However, the low cost associated with acquiring him makes this a sensible deal, even if he doesn’t take on a significant role in the offense.