3 Commanders players who must unlock their potential in 2024
By Dean Jones
Jahan Dotson - Commanders WR
Jahan Dotson's been solid enough since joining the Washington Commanders. Unfortunately for the wide receiver, he was drafted to be much more than that.
The Commanders thought they found a gem when Dotson was there for the taking at No. 16 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. He's gone over 500 receiving yards in each of his first two seasons. But the player's expected breakout under Eric Bieniemy didn't materialize last time around. This was one of many disappointments associated with Ron Rivera's final campaign as head coach.
Dotson is getting another chance to prove himself. The former Penn State star looks tailor-made to become a dynamic playmaker within Kliff Kingsbury's scheme. He also has an exciting quarterback in Jayden Daniels to depend upon providing the right chemistry is accumulated during the preparation period.
Kingsbury will have a plan in place to maximize the skill set Dotson brings to the table. Getting the football into his hands quickly would be a good place to start. However, the player needs to rid himself of concentration errors and work on creating separation manually with more effectiveness.
If Dotson can do this, improved numbers should follow. The Commanders have Terry McLaurin as their No. 1 wideout and hopes are high that rookie Luke McCaffrey can play his part immediately. Aside from that, there are more questions than answers surrounding the rest. That's why he must deliver in 2024.
What comes next is down to Dotson. The Commanders need him to surge forward and emerge into the explosive, elusive presence they thought he'd become pre-draft. There's also plenty of incentive from the player's perspective with his fifth-year option decision on the immediate horizon.
Dotson isn't lacking in self-confidence. He feels like the changes made throughout the offseason can help unlock his inner spark. If this scenario comes to fruition, everyone associated with the franchise is going to benefit enormously.