The Philadelphia Eagles are acquiring wide receiver Jahan Dotson in a trade with the Washington Commanders, the team announced Thursday. Washington is sending Dotson and a fifth-round pick to Philadelphia in exchange for a third-round pick and two seventh-round selections in the 2025 NFL Draft.

The 24-year-old wideout was set to enter his third season with Washington after being selected by the Commanders with the 16th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Dotson had a promising rookie year that saw him catch 35 passes for 523 yards and seven touchdowns in 12 games. In 2023, he caught 49 balls for 518 yards and four touchdowns.

The Eagles already had one of the best wide receiver duos in the NFL. The organization now arguably has the best trio in the league. A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith have fielded back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, and both signed offseason contract extensions that made them mainstays.

Still, the Eagles lacked depth beyond the duo. They spent a sixth-round pick on Johnny Wilson, who impressed in training camp, but has been recently sidelined in concussion protocol. John Ross, a former first-round pick, returned from retirement to sign with the Eagles, but he, too, is sidelined in concussion protocol. The Eagles, in search of speed, also signed Parris Campbell in the offseason. But he suffered a groin injury in training camp only began fully practicing without limitations on Sunday.  This apparently signaled enough urgency for general manager Howie Roseman to make a significant move with Week 1 just over two weeks away.

Dotson, 24, was the No. 16 overall pick in 2022. He totaled 84 catches for 1,041 yards and 11 touchdown receptions in two seasons with the Commanders. Dotson, a Newark, N.J., native and Penn State alum immediately finds himself at home in Philadelphia as the third-best receiver on the Eagles’ roster. Moore is expected to mix up the placement of the Eagles wide receiver corps, searching for the best possible matchup. Dotson has a history of inside-outside versatility. According to Pro Football Focus, Dotson has 1,023 career snaps split wide, 537 in the slot.

The cost is reasonable considering the firepower in the deal to aid Jalen Hurts under new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. The Eagles now have seven picks in the 2025 draft, three in the fifth round. Dotson has two years remaining on a rookie contract that the Eagles could extend by picking up Dotson’s fifth-year option. Dotson’s cap hit wasn’t going to exceed $4.8 million in any season with the Commanders, according to Over the Cap.

Why the Commanders traded him

The Commanders’ inherited roster purge continues.

New general manager Adam Peters hasn’t been shy about overhauling Washington’s talent base – over 50 percent of the 2023 squad is gone – and with good justification. That’s largely been about reserves or fringe players. This is a 2022 first-round pick who led the Commanders with seven touchdown receptions as a rookie.

Dotson then struggled last year in Eric Bieniemy’s offense and has seemed off much of the summer. Moving the 5-foot-11 target became a conversation after Dotson played more snaps than any Washington wide receiver in the preseason opener. The inevitably only spiked from there as head coach Dan Quinn responded to questions about Dotson’s status with talk of competition.

There is no clear upside replacement opposite standout Terry McLaurin. Olamide Zaccheaus has delivered in camp after signing as a free agent this offseason. Like Dotson, he’s a skilled route runner but provides more of the competitive spirit Quinn and Peters desire. Fourth–year WR Dyami Brown offers downfield speed, but has yet deliver on his promise upon entering the league.

Third-round pick Luke McCaffrey will get an opportunity at slot and outside. Mitchell Tinsley, Byron Pringle, Jamison Crowder Bryce Tremayne, Martavis Bryant and Kazmeir Allen could play their way into the final 1-3 spots with special teams work a notable factor.

Big picture, Dotson is the second of four first-round picks under head coach Ron Rivera no longer with the team. It’s possible DE/LB Jamin Davis (2021) joins Dotson and DE Chase Young (2020) with a new address this season, while CB Emmanuel Forbes (2023) seeks growth after a trying rookie year.

No wonder Peters is moving pieces and, in this case, adding draft picks for 2025 when Washington likely becomes more aggressive with its roster building and ample space ($37.1 million in 2024 per Over The Cap). — Standig

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(Photo: Rich Schultz / Getty Images)