PHILADELPHIA — When the Eagles signed star operating again Saquon Barkley to a three-year, $37.75 million deal firstly of free company in March, receiver Jahan Dotson responded on social media: “Whose MUT group is that this?” — the “MUT” standing for Madden Final Group.
Now he is a part of the improve for a corporation clearly working in Franchise Mode.
The Eagles despatched a third-round decide and two seventh-round picks to the Washington Commanders Thursday for Dotson and a 2025 fifth-round decide. In doing so, they answered one of many final remaining questions on their personnel on offense.
In brief, the Eagles have been struggling to establish a 3rd large receiver to play alongside standouts A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Veterans Parris Campbell, John Ross and Britain Covey all obtained work with the primary group as did rookie Johnny Wilson. Whereas every had good moments, nobody separated from the pack they usually continued to separate reps all through coaching camp.
Dotson, 24, is available in because the clear favourite to imagine that WR3 position. In two seasons with Washington, Dotson caught 84 passes for 1,041 yards and 11 touchdowns whereas taking part in with a rotating forged at quarterback that included Carson Wentz, Taylor Heinicke and Sam Howell.
He offered some spotlight moments since being chosen sixteenth general within the 2022 draft out of Penn State however his play lacked consistency. His 13.4% targets per route run (78th out of 80) and 0.86 yards per route run (78th out of 80) each ranked among the many lowest on the large receiver place final season, per ESPN Stats & Info, whereas his 7.4 drop proportion final season was Tenth-highest within the NFL.
He should profit from what is going to doubtless be restricted alternatives, at the very least comparatively talking. The passing offense runs via Brown, Smith and tight finish Dallas Goedert. Philadelphia additionally has plans to get Barkley into the passing sport combine. There are solely so many targets to go round.
However there’s cause to consider this will likely be a match. Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore has proven this summer time that he plans on transferring receivers round greater than the Eagles have in latest seasons to offer defenses completely different seems to be and assist create favorable matchups. Dotson is taken into account at his greatest within the slot however does have sufficient versatility (he lined up exterior for 217 snaps final season in comparison with 669 inside) to permit Smith and Brown to kick inside when wanted. And his velocity (4.43-second 40-yard sprint on the mix) will assist draw loads of consideration downfield, permitting much more room for this star-studded forged to function.
It is a good wager Brown vouched for Dotson. The 2 have educated collectively within the offseason at Florida Atlantic College underneath Joey Guarascio. Brown has credited Dotson for pushing him in velocity coaching particularly.
“You may inform by the primary exercise I had with him, his need to be nice,” Dotson mentioned final November. “We might do sprints and stuff like that. I would ask Coach Joey, ‘What did A.J. run this morning?’ and would make sure that I attempted to beat it. And I am fairly certain he was doing the identical factor.”
He additionally has the Nittany Lions ties with Barkley, although the 2 missed one another by one 12 months at Penn State.
Whereas the Eagles gave up an honest quantity of commerce capital for Dotson, they’d two third-round picks within the 2025 draft earlier than the commerce, in order that they have one left. Eagles basic supervisor Howie Roseman at present has seven picks to work with in ’25, together with three fifth-rounders.
The truth that Washington was keen to half with Dotson with two years remaining on his rookie deal illustrates that he didn’t dwell as much as expectations. He was unable to lock up the second receiver spot reverse Terry McLaurin this summer time.
However the ask in Philly will likely be completely different: to maintain defenders sincere, and reply the bell when his quantity known as.