Jahan Dotson and 4 former Commanders who have floundered in 2024

Losing three games in a row has put the season in the balance for the Washington Commanders, but they can take some early Christmas cheer from knowing they're still headed in the right direction. That knowledge is based on how five prominent payers of the former regime have floundered on new teams in 2024.

This below-par quintet includes a pair of wide receivers who have hardly made a dent for different employers. That one of those wideouts is practically anonymous for one of the Commanders' NFC East rivals only sweetens the pot and justifies general manager Adam Peters' decision to trade.

Peters didn't trade a highly-touted pass-rusher during last season, but he can thank predecessor Martin Mayhew and ex-head coach Ron Rivera for that. They got creditable draft compensation for a defensive end who's still no closer to living up to the hysterically premature billing as a future Pro Football Hall of Famer.

Peters and Dan Quinn didn't just dump underachievers. A pair of Commanders who were solid performers on losing teams haven't met expectations since landing in the AFC East. At least they can point to injuries and misuse as adequate reasons why.

Here are the five Commanders finding out the grass isn't always greener, starting with Jahan Dotson.

Jahan Dotson and 4 former Commanders who have floundered in 2024

Jahan Dotson's not making a difference for the Eagles

Trading Jahan Dotson within the division showed exactly what Peters, Quinn, and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury thought of Rivera's first-round pick from 2022. It turns out their downbeat assessment was right, even though the transaction appeared short-sighted at the time.

The Commanders opted to deal away a young receiver with legitimate after-catch skills for a third-round pick and two seventh-rounders next year. A decent haul, but it was a risk to say goodbye to Dotson when rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels needed weapons and lacked (still does) credible big-play targets beyond perimeter specialist Terry McLaurin.

Dotson's performances have since made it look like Peters should've worn a ski mask and carried a bag marked with a dollar sign when collecting those draft choices from the Eagles. Four starts, 10 catches, and six first downs are all Philadelphia has gotten for its investment in a pass-catcher still not scratching the surface of his full potential.

The more things change, the more they stay the same. However, Dotson isn't the only would-be playmaker proving little more than a passenger elsewhere.