Earlier this week, the Philadelphia Eagles pulled off a surprising trade, landing wide receiver Jahan Dotson from the Washington Commanders. The deal was a surprise to many for two reasons. First, Washington does not exactly have a deep wide receiver room, and though Dotson has underachieved, he was one of their top three wide receivers on the depth chart.
Second, it was a shock that the Commanders decided to send the former first-round pick to a division rival. Last season, the Eagles finished second in the NFC East with an 11-5 record while the Commanders finished last with a record of 4-13.
Dotson immediately slides in as Philadelphia’s number three wide receiver behind AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith. As a former first-round pick, the Eagles have Dotson for at least the next two seasons and can choose to exercise his fifth-year option for a third season on their roster before he hits free agency.
Washington Commanders Head Coach Dan Quinn Explained Why Jahan Dotson Was Traded to the Philadelphia Eagles
After the trade of Dotson was made, Commanders head coach Dan Quinn defended the transaction by saying, “You always make decisions that are rock solid and best for the team. Everything is a factor. We thought we were a deep and strong group. We had a lot of different guys. At the end it was an opportunity to help the team.”
The Commanders sent Dotson and a fifth-round pick to the Eagles in exchange for a third-round pick and two seventh-round selections.
In other words, no assets that will help their team be successful this year. While it may benefit them in the long run, trading away a talented wide receiver right before a new rookie quarterback, Jayden Daniels, begins his NFL career.
Meanwhile, the Eagles get a talented pass catcher who has yet to meet his potential, joining an offense that boasts an MVP-level quarterback and two Pro Bowl-caliber wide receivers.
New Philadelphia Eagles Wide Receiver Jahan Dotson Understands the NFL Is a Business
It is not often that a first-round wide receiver fails to finish out his first NFL contract with the team that drafted him. Yet, that is the reality Dotson faces as he joins his former rival,
Speaking to reporters (via NBC Sports Philadelphia), Dotson had the following to say about being traded, “I talked to coach Dan Quinn and Mr. Adam Peters and they told me they think very highly of me. “It was kind of just something that happens, you know. These things happen all the time in the NFL. I’m not going to take it personal until I see Washington.”
“I’m not going to take it personal until I see Washington” — Jahan Dotson spoke to the media for the first time as a member of the Eagles on Saturday following the Birds’ preseason finale. pic.twitter.com/qCc2LHpAGR
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) August 24, 2024
The Eagles and Commanders play each other twice this season, as is the norm. Their first contest will be on November 14 and the second on December 22.
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