As Penn State ends their season with an Outback Bowl loss to the Arkansas Razorbacks, we are just a few short months away from the 2022 NFL Draft.
Penn State had a flurry of players opt out to prep for the draft, including six on the defensive side. Many of the keys players from Penn State that didn’t play have soared their way up draft boards and found themselves in first-round mock drafts.
This week, one of Penn State’s star players has been selected in several first-round mock drafts, perhaps more than any current Nittany Lion draft prospects. Who might that be?
That’s right. Jahan Dotson.
Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports has Dotson being selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the 28th overall pick. This comes just a day after Antonio Brown stormed off the field in frustration and was later cut by the Bucs.
One could argue that there are other needs besides wide receiver for the Bucs, especially in the first round. Perhaps addressing their defensive line or even offensive line.
But the future of the receiver position for Tampa Bay is a major storyline right now. Former Penn State receiver Chris Godwin is about the enter free agency in the worst possible shape. Godwin tore an ACL in the final weeks of the NFL’s regular season and it could be a while before he sees the field again. And he may not even get to do so with Tampa Bay.
So with Godwin’s injury concerns and Brown’s bizarre antics, Tampa could be in the market for a young and reliable receiver to pair with Mike Evans.
Whether Dotson comes in as a second or third receiver, he provides the experience and the athleticism that would be crucial for the Bucs offense.
Throughout his career at Penn State, Dotson caught 90 total passes, joining Allen Robinson as the only two Nittany Lions receivers to surpass the 90-catch milestone.
With the Bucs dealing with their offensive weapons struggling to stay healthy for a good portion of the season, taking a receiver early would make sense for them. Other than his traits, Dotson would be an extremely reliable weapon for the Bucs offense.
This next draft or two could be crucial for the Bucs, and it wouldn’t be too surprising to see them go heavy on offense. Dotson would be a good fit for any offense that is continuing to build young while keeping some key players for the post-Tom Brady era.
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