Jahan Dotson’s Quiet Growth in Philly Could Set the Stage for a Breakout Elsewhere
PHILADELPHIA - When the Eagles swung a deal for Jahan Dotson ahead of the 2024 season, it looked like a savvy move. They gave up a conditional third-rounder and two seventh-round picks to bring in a former first-round wideout with untapped potential.
On paper, it was a win - Dotson joined a loaded receiving corps headlined by A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, and with Kellen Moore taking over the offense, there was real optimism that Dotson could emerge as a key third option in a retooled passing attack.
But football isn’t played on paper.
Dotson’s two-year stint in Philadelphia never quite matched the initial expectations. His stat line - 478 receiving yards and one touchdown on 37 catches - reflects a player whose role was limited in a low-volume passing offense that leaned heavily on its top two receivers and tight end Dallas Goedert. In an offense designed to funnel touches to its stars, Dotson often found himself on the outside looking in.
Still, you won’t find any complaints from him. No headlines, no cryptic social media posts, no sideline outbursts. Dotson handled his diminished role with maturity and perspective, embracing the opportunity to learn from some of the league’s best at his position.
“I have a lot of patience,” Dotson said during locker cleanout last week. “A lot of stuff I can still grow in.
I’ve been playing football for a long time, and coming here, I felt like I knew it all. Then you play next to A.J. and Smitty, and you realize there’s still so much more to learn.”
That humility - paired with a willingness to be coached hard - helped Dotson turn what could’ve been a frustrating two-year stretch into a valuable experience. He credited wide receivers coach Aaron Morehead for pushing him, and spoke about how the Eagles’ demanding practice culture helped sharpen his approach.
“Coming out to practice every day with that mindset that it’s like a game,” Dotson said. “It’s just different things that I’ve learned, just from being here, that will benefit me down the road - as a football player and in life.”
The Eagles declined Dotson’s fifth-year option last spring, setting him up to hit free agency in March. While a return to Philly isn’t out of the question, the writing appears to be on the wall. The team is high on second-year wideout Darius Cooper, who saw his role grow as the season progressed and looks like the next man up behind Brown and Smith.
Dotson, for his part, had nothing but praise for his locker neighbor.
“Coop’s going to be a hell of a football player,” he said. “He works hard, and I’m really proud of him for making the most of his chances.”
Even if Dotson’s time in Philly didn’t produce big numbers, it did produce moments. His 11-yard touchdown in the Wild Card round got the Eagles on the board in a game that would launch a Super Bowl run.
And in Super Bowl LIX, it was Dotson who nearly found the end zone on a deep sideline shot from Jalen Hurts - a play initially ruled a touchdown before a review showed he came up just short. It was a smart, heads-up play by Dotson, who didn’t risk extending the ball and potentially losing it.
Hurts punched it in on the next snap.
Those flashes - rare as they were - serve as reminders of the skill set that made Dotson a first-round pick. He’s still just 25, with fresh legs, reliable hands, and the versatility to line up inside or outside. And now, he’s hungry for more.
“I’m ready to maximize my talent,” he said. “Because I know I have a lot of good football ahead of me. I know I can help a football team win a lot of games, and I’m ready to do that.”
As Dotson eyes free agency, he’s looking for the right fit - a team that values what he brings and offers a strong culture, much like what he experienced in Philadelphia. But there’s one more thing he’s hoping for.
“A place that maybe, someday,” he said, “I can call home.”
Wherever that is, Dotson sounds like a player who’s ready for the next chapter. And if he lands in the right spot, don’t be surprised if that patience he’s developed finally pays off in a big way.