Grading Commanders' last six first-round picks ahead of 2024 NFL Draft

Jahan Dotson - Commanders WR

• Wide Receiver | Penn State Nittany Lions
• No. 16 overall | 2022 NFL Draft

The Washington Commanders needed to find a dynamic playmaker to go alongside Terry McLaurin in the wide receiver room. Ron Rivera's offense became far too reliant on the veteran to produce thanks in no small part to the lack of consistency under center. This led the franchise to Jahan Dotson at No. 16 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Dotson was an explosive playmaker at Penn State. He created separation at will and was a significant threat to gain yards after the catch. While the player has flashed these exact qualities in the pros, the wideout hasn't quite had the impact many hoped for after two seasons.

First off, Dotson's catch success percentage of 58.3 has to rise in the coming years. There are some concentration flaws and the player has issues catching the football in traffic. But get him into open space and that's where the magic happens.

With 84 receptions for 1,041 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns over his first two years, it's been a solid if not spectacular start to his NFL journey. Dotson hasn't met the expectations normally associated with a first-round pick, but there's still time for that to change.

Grade: B

If the Commanders can find their franchise quarterback at No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury maximizes his gifts within his expansive scheme, Dotson could be set for the breakout campaign most thought would arrive under Eric Bieniemy last time around.

Teams generally get a good sense of what a player is or could become after their third season. Dotson is entering a critical Year 3 of his professional career and the Commanders will likely bolster their wide receiver options at some stage during the 2024 NFL Draft. This only raises the stakes further for someone with all the physical gifts needed to be a genuine difference-maker.