Eagles Make Final Decision on 1st-Round Draft Pick

The Philadelphia Eagles traded for former Washington Commanders' first-round pick Jahan Dotson last August, but he did not quite pan out like the team thought he would.

As a result, the team has decided to decline the wide receiver's player option, per a report by FOX Sports' Jordan Schultz. This means that Dotson will become a free agent following the 2025 season.

Coming out of Penn State, many thought Dotson could be one of the best young receivers in the NFL, which caused the Commanders to draft him with the No. 16 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. While he is by no means a bust just yet, his career is not off to the start that he would have hoped for.

In the 2024 season with the Eagles, Dotson started in just six games, and had just 19 receptions for 216 yards and no touchdowns. His yardage number was less than that of star running back Saquon Barkley, which isn't exactly a good omen for a wide receiver.

Dotson will still in theory be a solid WR3 alongside A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith in the 2025 season, but the team could decide to go in a different direction after that. 

One way they could do that is on the horizon … by drafting a young receiver in the upcoming NFL Draft.

The Eagles have eight picks all in the first five rounds of the draft, and they could decide to take a young receiver who does not cost as much money as Dotson.