Jahan Dotson
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Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jahan Dotson.
The Philadelphia Eagles didn’t have to give up much when they got wide receiver and former 1st round pick Jahan Dotson in a trade before the 2024 season.
You can make an argument Dotson’s return on investment far exceeded whatever the Eagles gave up for him in their run to a Super Bowl win that season alone — and just in the postseason.
Now, Dotson gets to cash out with another team in free agency agreeing to a 2-year, $15 million free agent contract with the Atlanta Falcons on Monday.
“Former Eagles WR Jahan Dotson reached agreement today with the Falcons on a 2-year $15M deal worth up to $17M including $10M fully guaranteed, per source,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on his official X account.
Dotson’s payday from the Falcons is surprising only in that when the Washington Commanders traded him for a 3rd round pick in August 2024 his career seemed like it was on life support.
“In the summer of 2024, Howie Roseman traded a 3rd round pick for Jahan Dotson to solidify the WR3 spot,” Fly Eagles Fly Bets wrote on its official X account on February 20. “Two years later, Dotson finished with a total of 37 catches for 478 yards and a touchdown, plus a solid playoff run on the way to a Super Bowl. From that perspective alone, the trade paid off. Still, for a former 1st round pick, the overall impact wasn’t quite what many expected, including himself. Now a free agent, Dotson will likely look for a bigger opportunity elsewhere. But even in a limited role, he delivered in key moments.”
Jahan Dotson Playoff Hero in Run to Super Bowl Win
Dotson seemed to suddenly have a knack for making huge plays once he hit the postseason for the first time in his career, beginning with a touchdown catch in the playoff opener against the Green Bay Packers in 2024.
He capped that run with another clutch performance in the Eagles’ 40-22 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX.
Dotson finished the Super Bowl with 2 receptions for 42 yards, including a diving, 28-yard catch in the first quarter that was initially ruled a touchdown but after being overturned was what set up the Eagles’ first touchdown on a 1-yard run from Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts.
“It’s everything I dreamed of, it’s everything I came here to get,” Dotson said after the game. “… If I would have told you 365 days ago that I’d be here you would have laughed at me. I’m blessed to be here. Truly blessed.”
From 1st Round Bust to Super Bowl Champion
Dotson was the Commanders’ 1st round pick (No. 16 overall) in the 2022 NFL draft out of Penn State. No team in the NFL was as bad at drafting players in the first round as the Commanders were from 2019 to 2023 — all 5 of their 1st round picks in those years were no longer with the team midway through the 2024 season.
Dotson missed 5 games as a rookie in 2022 and finished with 35 receptions for 523 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns in 12 games. Dotson played all 17 games for the Commanders in 2023 with 49 receptions for 518 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns.
He also had arguably the worst hands of any wide receiver in the NFL, leading the league in drop percentage.