The Philadelphia Eagles acquired former first-round pick wide receiver Jahan Dotson from the Washington Commanders on Thursday. While trades within a division are rare, the clock was ticking with Week 1 quickly approaching.
A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith are regarded as one of the best wide receiver duos in the NFL, but Philadelphia needed to address the WR3 spot on the team’s current roster.
Did the Eagles panic ahead of the regular season, or was it the right move? Let’s take a closer look at Philadelphia’s deal for Dotson and his potential fit.
Eagles Land Jahan Dotson, Fill Void at WR3
The Eagles announced their acquisition of Dotson on Thursday afternoon.
- Eagles receive:
- WR Jahan Dotson
- 2025 fifth-round pick (via WAS)
- Commanders receive:
- 2025 third-round pick (earliest pick between PHI and MIA)
- Two 2025 seventh-round picks (two latest picks)
The Eagles acquired a 2025 third-round pick from the Miami Dolphins during the 2024 NFL Draft by trading its 2024 fourth-round pick in exchange.
Therefore, the Eagles essentially traded a 2024 fourth-round pick for Dotson and acquired a 2025 fifth-round pick in exchange for two 2024 seventh-round picks.
Overall, this was a smart use of resources for general manager Howie Roseman, especially considering Dotson has up to three years of team control left on his rookie contract.
Dotson is under contract for $1.5 million in 2024 and $2.7 million in 2025. Philadelphia will also have the opportunity to exercise his fifth-year option for 2026.
How Will Dotson Fit Next to A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith?
While the Eagles were hoping one of the current wide receivers on the team’s roster would emerge as WR3, that hasn’t happened. Therefore, Roseman acquired Dotson to fill the void next to Brown and Smith.
Thanks to the arrival of Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, Philadelphia’s wide receivers will be used in various alignments, which will be a perfect fit for Dotson, who’s spent significant time both in the slot and outside.
Through his first two NFL seasons, Dotson has played on 1,078 passing snaps, according to TruMedia. He lined up outside on 688 snaps (63.8%) and in the slot on 390 snaps (36.2%).
Therefore, it’s clear that Dotson’s versatility is a strength that will fit perfectly alongside Brown and Smith in Moore’s system. Philadelphia’s star WR duo can also line up in various alignments.
Dotson has averaged 67.5 targets per season in his first two years in the NFL, which is notable considering he’ll likely receive a similar number of targets with the Eagles, if not less.
Yet, his versatility and experience as a starter is exactly what the Eagles needed at WR3. Not only will Dotson fit in seamlessly on Philadelphia’s existing offense, he provides much-needed insurance in case Brown or Smith get injured.
Grading the Eagles’ Trade for Dotson
In 2022, Roseman identified a massive need at safety ahead of the regular season and filled it by trading for C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Now he did it once again by filling the need at WR3 just ahead of Week 1.
While Dotson is a perfect complement to Brown and Smith, there are concerns about him.
Dotson has struggled with drops and his playing strength since arriving in the NFL. His drop percentage of 7.7% leaves much to be desired, but he’s still just 24 years old.
The concerns about Dotson’s lack of physicality and ability to gain yards after the catch are legitimate, though. Despite being just 5’11 and 182 pounds, he hasn’t been explosive after the catch, averaging just 3.1 yards after catch per reception.
For comparison’s sake, Smith averages 4.1 yac per reception, while Brown averages 5.7.
Regardless of Dotson’s weaknesses, this was still a great deal for Roseman and the Eagles, especially given Philadelphia’s overall outlook on how it initially acquired the compensation used to land Dotson.
The cherry on top of this deal for the Eagles is that Dotson is under contract for at least two years for just $4.2 million. Therefore, Roseman has locked up Philadelphia’s WR trio for at least the next two seasons.
Grade: A