What did Jahan Dotson say about Commanders and Dan Quinn?

What did former Washington first-round pick Jahan Dotson say about his former team?

Jahan Dotson was the object of much criticism during Commanders’ training camp.

He was traded to the Eagles, and for the next three or four days, the main topic on DC Sports radio was body language and its importance in team building.

The biggest surprise was that GM Adam Peters traded Dotson to the NFC East divisional rival Philadelphia Eagles. Peters was heavily criticized for trading Dotson within the division.

However, Dotson has not (yet) had a productive season through nine Eagles games. He has eight receptions for 98 yards and no touchdowns in his nine Eagles games.

When Dotson was asked about Thursday’s opponent, the Commanders, how did he respond?

“You have a great coached team, a great leader of men,” Dotson said of Quinn. “If you can implement the right kind of mindset and the right kind of culture, you can do a lot of great things, and that’s a kudos to coach Dan Quinn. He’s doing a fantastic job. He knows how to grab the room and … he makes it very easy for people to listen to him and do what he asks.”

Being traded by Quinn before he had even completed a single training camp, one might expect much different comments. But apparently, after spending his first two seasons with Ron Rivera and his second one with Eric Bieniemy as offensive coordinator, Dotson was apparently very impressed with Quinn’s coaching and leadership.

What did Dotson have to say about his former Washington teammates? “They have some fantastic players over there and they’re putting their players in some good positions to make plays.”

Credit to Dotson here. He could have taken a shot or two at the new coaching staff that kicked him out the door. However, he took the time to be honest and give credit where it was due.

After all, Dotson played on that 4-13, weak, noncompetitive team that finished next to last in the NFL, earning the No. 2 overall draft pick.

Dotson knows how much worse it was last year; he lived it.

Dan Quinn’s answer about a No. 2 receiver is telling

The Commanders like their current group of receivers.

Throughout the 2024 offseason and training camp, it was a foregone conclusion that Jahan Dotson was Washington’s No. 2 receiver.

That is until preseason games began, and head coach Dan Quinn noticeably one day praised some wide receivers but neglected to mention Dotson. After a week of much speculation, suddenly, on the morning of August 22, Adam Peters had traded away Dotson and a fifth-round choice to the Eagles. In exchange, Washington would receive a third-round choice and two seventh-round choices.

To this day, fans and media still discuss the team’s need for a No.2 receiver. Quinn apparently doesn’t agree.

On Wednesday, when asked about “the lingering discussions” about the Commanders’ need to develop a No. 2 receiver, Quinn smiled and responded, “No, I’ll let you and the guys outside have those ones. For us, we’re really focused on the guys that are here, honestly, just absolutely battling for it.”

Olamide Zaccheaus leads the receivers (other than Terry McLaurin) with 10 receptions, averaging 11.4 YPR. Noah Brown follows him with 9 receptions, averaging 12.3, Luke McCaffrey (7/ 11.3), Dyami Brown (5/ 7.4), and Jamison Crowder (1/ 5.0).

Quinn interestingly added, “What you will see sometimes each week is some reps may change by the position, what’s needed maybe for that game plan or for how we’d want to attack. But we’re really pleased with the group and their competitive nature, what they stand for.”

For what it is worth, the Eagles were without DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown last week, and Brown has now missed the last three games. Dotson has not taken advantage of their absences, as he has only accumulated five receptions for 25 yards in his four games.

Analyst believes the Commanders will finish ahead of the Eagles in the NFC East

There is at least one person who thinks the Commanders will finish ahead of the Eagles.

Where did the hosts of “First Things First” predict the Commanders would finish in the NFC East this year?

Monday, the hosts made their predictions and reasons why. Here are their predictions for the NFC East and what they had to say about the Commanders specifically.

Nick Wright: Cowboys, Commanders, Eagles, Giants

“The argument for the Washington Commanders is simple. The new coach bump from Dan Quinn, and the fact that I like Jayden Daniels as a player. I don’t like him long-term as a prospect because I am concerned about the injuries.

I’m concerned about his body, his frame, and his ability to survive eight, nine, ten years in this league. That’s my whole argument against him. That he is too small for a long NFL career, that doesn’t mean he can’t be dynamic in an individual season.

They have decent weapons and I understand defensively there are going to be some struggles. However, there is always a team that everyone has written off as one of the worst teams in the league that is going to make the playoffs or is right there. I don’t have them making the playoffs, but I do have them finishing second.”

Chris Broussard: Eagles, Cowboys, Commanders, Giants

“I love Jayden Daniels. I think he is going to have a dynamic year, and I think they are growing. That doesn’t mean I think he is making the playoffs as a rookie. But I think he has a bright future.”

Greg Jennings: Eagles, Cowboys, Commanders, Giants

“You (Nick Wright) say Jahan Dotson is not a good receiver? You are out of your mind. He had a down year last year. I like him in this situation. I think what they are trying to do is really put a lot of pieces around Jalen Hurts…I don’t know how confident they are in him carrying the load. When you start to load up around a quarterback like this, you’re saying he needs more around him.”

I like the Cowboys, but they are not making the playoffs. I’m sorry, Cowboy Nation.”

Jennings did not provide any commentary on the Commanders or Giants.