PHILADELPHIA — Before Jahan Dotson started the process of cleaning out his locker at the NovaCare Complex — before he folded jerseys and packed away belongings in a large cardboard box — the Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver had a few final conversations.
Dotson offered words of advice to rookie Darius Cooper on Monday. He hugged teammates who walked by his stall. The former Penn State star took it all in, and he took his time.
“I know that it’s probably my last day being here,” Dotson told PennLive. “So it’s tough seeing all the faces, all the relationships you built. Obviously, you still keep those. But those everyday locker room talks and everything like that, it’s tough leaving that. But it’s part of the business.”
Dotson has accepted that his two-year stint with the Eagles is over. The Nazareth native’s contract has run its course, and he’ll be looking for a new team this offseason.
Dotson figured his days in Philadelphia were numbered after the Eagles declined to pick up a team option for the 2026 season back in April.
The 2022 first-round pick said he still has to talk to some people, see where their heads are at and “make a decision off that.” But his eventual departure was something that was “in the back” of his mind all season long.
“It was fun,” Dotson said of his time with the Eagles. “I learned a lot while I was here. Truly a remarkable two years. But my time’s probably coming to an end.”
A part of that is seeing the writing on the wall. DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown are under contract through 2028 and 2029, respectively. If the Eagles trade Brown, they’ll likely draft a high-end receiver. And Cooper, the undrafted rookie, has emerged as a potential WR3 of the future.
That’s the role Dotson held for the last two seasons. After being traded from the Commanders days before the 2024 season, Dotson logged 1,467 offensive snaps in 39 games, playoffs included. He had 40 catches on 75 targets for 530 yards and two touchdowns.
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jahan Dotson (83) is tackled short of the goal line by Kansas City cornerback Jaylen Watson (35) during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 59 football game, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)AP
Dotson was a playmaker when given the chance to show why he was a star at Penn State. He had a near-touchdown in Super Bowl LIX, bringing a 27-yard gain down to the 1-yard line to help set the tone against the Chiefs. He had a 51-yard catch in this year’s Week 1 win over Dallas. And he had an acrobatic 40-yard score against the Giants in Week 8.
Dotson was a locker room favorite. And he was a favorite of head coach Nick Sirianni, too, who said Dotson’s selflessness earned his “respect” and admiration.
“I can’t tell you how many times I put on the tape or I show the tape in here from a game or practice and show him busting his butt, trying to get a block or running off somebody and taking advantage of the opportunities when the ball does come to him,” Sirianni said earlier this month.
But those chances were few and far between. Dotson was productive with Washington, hauling in 84 catches on 144 targets for 1,041 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2022 and 2023. He’s hoping to find a role and an opportunity with another team more in line with that.
“I know the type of player I am,” Dotson said. “I know I can make plays for any football team in this league. I wasn’t really able to showcase that here just because of the people that we have.
“I took a backseat to that for the betterment of the team. I was that guy who kind of had to sacrifice getting the ball. … For me, I’ve got to look out for myself right now. I know I have all the capability to make plays. It’s just about seeing which team sees that in me.”
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jahan Dotson (83) celebrates his touchdown with Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)AP
Still, Monday was an emotional day for Dotson. He said his favorite moments with the Eagles weren’t the catches he made or the games they won. It was sitting by the locker he was cleaning out, growing “really close” with Brown, Smith and the rest of the receivers.
“They’re almost like family,” he said. “We’re at each other’s weddings, kids’ birthday parties. That’s the stuff I live for. Those are guys who I’ll talk to forever.”
Those relationships and the memories he made in Philadelphia will last a lifetime. But now, Dotson feels as though it’s time to turn the page.
Before he decides which team he’ll sign with, Dotson said he’s “gonna go be a dad” to his two-year-old son. He smiled when he said they’ll probably go to Disney World. Dotson also wants to travel abroad, leave the country for the first time and “see the world a little bit.”
“But anywhere I go, I’ve got to put some work in,” Dotson said. “I know next year is going to be a big year for me. I want to make the most of it, and I know I will when that opportunity comes.”