NFL analyst projects Jahan Dotson to lead rookie WRs in receiving yards

If you really think about it, the Washington Commanders are getting three new pass-catchers this season. Jahan Dotson and Cole Turner are as straightforward as it gets, but Curtis Samuel is almost like a new signing given he played less than 100 snaps last year due to groin and hamstring injuries.

While Samuel is the Commanders’ biggest X-factor, Dotson’s role will be equally important given he’s expected to be the No. 2 opposite Terry McLaurin.

Dotson is already a fan favorite in Washington and that goes beyond his velcro-like hands and ability to catch balls in traffic despite being undersized. In many ways, he’s the 2022 version of Terry McLaurin; wildly talented but underrated compared to other receivers in his class, soft-spoken, humble, and mature beyond his years.

Speaking of being underrated, Dotson hasn’t garnered nearly enough Offensive Rookie of the Year buzz as his talent would indicate. Fellow rookies George Pickens, Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave and Skyy Moore are all the rage on NFL Twitter.

However, NFL Media draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah thinks Dotson will out-produce all of them this season. In making the “best/worse-case projections for notable offensive rookies,” Jeremiah picked Dotson to lead the pack in receiving yards.

NFL draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah believes Commanders WR Jahan Dotson could lead all rookies in receiving yards.

It’s worth noting these aren’t hard projections. They’re best-case scenarios, so Jeremiah is essentially projecting each rookie’s Year 1 ceiling. However, it speaks volumes that he views Dotson’s ceiling as the highest of the bunch.

Here’s what Jeremiah said of Dotson’s rookie potential.

"Best-case scenario: Dotson displays exactly what evaluators loved during his collegiate career: exceptional hands and explosiveness. He has the upside to be the top producer in his draft class. He should see favorable matchups playing opposite Terry McLaurin.Worst-case scenario: His lack of size (5-foot-11, 182 pounds) leads to some durability concerns. If he can stay healthy, I believe his floor is very high.Projected stats: 75 catches, 1,000 yards, 5 TDs."

Simply put, Commanders fans would be over the moon if Dotson eclipsed the 1,000-yard threshold as a rookie. Assuming McLaurin finishes with over 1,000 yards, Washington would have two receivers log 1,000 yards receiving for the first time since 2016 when Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson pulled it off.

Here are Jeremiah’s projections for the other rookie receivers.

• Drake London: 80 catches, 950 yards, 6 TDs
• Garrett Wilson: 55 catches, 725 yards, 4 TDs
• Chris Olave: 70 catches, 900 yards, 7 TDs
• Jameson Williams: 35 catches, 550 yards, 3 TDs
• Treylon Burks: 65 catches, 900 yards, 4 TDs
• George Pickens: 65 catches, 845 yards, 6 TDs
• Skyy Moore: 55 catches, 700 yards, 5 TDs

By Jeremiah’s projections, Dotson will finish with the most receiving yards, second-most catches and third-most touchdowns in the 2022 class. This obviously doesn’t confirm Dotson will even come close to posting these numbers, but the fact Jeremiah, one of the most respected draft analysts in the industry, is this bullish on the Penn State product is just further confirmation the Commanders got a stud.

Can the regular season just start already?