NFL
2022 NFL Draft: Grades for Jahan Dotson and Every Other Washington Commanders Pick
Tim Crean started writing about sports in 2016 and joined Sports7 in 2021. He excels with his versatile coverage of the NFL and soccer landscape, as well as his expertise breaking down sports media, which stems from his many years downloading podcasts before they were even cool and countless hours spent listening to Mike & The Mad Dog and The Dan Patrick Show, among other programs. As a longtime self-professed sports junkie who even played DII lacrosse at LeMoyne College in Syracuse, New York, Tim loves reading about all the latest sports news every day and considers it a dream to write about sports professionally. He's a lifelong Buffalo Bills fan from Western New York who mistakenly thought, back in the early '90s, that his team would be in the Super Bowl every year. He started following European soccer — with a Manchester City focus — in the early 2000s after spending far too much time playing FIFA. When he's not enjoying a round of golf or coaching youth soccer and flag football, Tim likes reading the work of Bill Simmons, Tony Kornheiser, Chuck Klosterman, and Tom Wolfe.
Get to know Tim Crean betterUpdated02 May 2022
The Washington Football Team took Jamin Davis, Samuel Cosmi, Benjamin St-Juste, and Dyami Brown in the first three rounds of last year's event, and the newly renamed Washington Commanders entered the 2022 NFL Draft hoping to land at least a few prospects capable of making a more immediate impact.
Carson Wentz is ready to take over under center for a team led by Chase Young on the defensive end, and he certainly began Thursday night hoping his new organization would focus on the passing game. Yes, that applies to both sides of the ball.
Offensively, Washington needs to figure out a better game plan than having him toss the ball to Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel, and Cam Sims. Defensively, it must provide more secondary support to give the pass-rushing options time to get to the quarterback.
2022 NFL Draft picks by Washington Commanders
- No. 16 Overall: Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
- No. 47 Overall: Phidarian Mathis, DT, Alabama
- No. 98 Overall: Brian Robinson Jr., RB, Alabama
- No. 113 Overall: Percy Butler, S, Louisiana
- No. 144 Overall: Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina
- No. 149 Overall: Cole Turner, TE, Nevada
- No. 230 Overall: Chris Paul, OG, Tulsa
- No. 240 Overall: Christian Holmes, CB, Oklahoma State
No. 16 Overall: Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
The Washington Commanders desperately needed a wide receiver opposite Terry McLaurin, and they got a good one in Penn State’s Jahan Dotson. At 5-foot-11, 178 pounds, he doesn’t have elite NFL size, but he’s got good speed (4.43-second 40-yard dash) and some of the best hands of any pass-catcher in the draft. Dotson is slightly less dynamic than the top four WRs in this draft, but the Commanders just married need, fit, and talent, so this pick has to be in the A range.
Grade: A-
No. 47 Overall: Phidarian Mathis, DT, Alabama
This is a stretch even if Phidarian Mathis' quickness shedding blockers and hand strength lets him live in opposing backfields. Washington loves loading up on high-profile defensive linemen (especially from Alabama), but it had bigger needs at every other level of the defense.
Grade: C+
No. 98 Overall: Brian Robinson Jr., RB, Alabama
The Alabama-to-Washington pipeline continues with a bruising, powerful back who runs angry and seems to love nothing more than steamrolling defenders at the second level. He'll have more trouble when he's not running behind the overpowered Crimson Tide offensive line, but he should be an effective power back.
Grade: B
Day 3 Picks
No. 113 Overall: Percy Butler, S, Louisiana
The Commanders get a good safety who could also transition into a nickel corner with his blazing 4.39 speed. Butler is also an accomplished special teams player who will make the roster just for that.
Grade: B-
No. 144 Overall: Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina
As the first pick in the fifth round, UNC QB Sam Howell is an excellent value pick. Howell's ceiling is Baker Mayfield with Josh Allen's arm and mentality. Sitting a year (or so) behind Carson Wentz should help his development too.
Grade: B+
No. 149 Overall: Cole Turner, TE, Nevada
Turner is a big target at 6-foot-6, 246-pounds for Wentz (or Howell?). He's simply a big receiver at this point who needs to add strength to become a blocker. He's a bit of a project but should be a red zone threat right away with his height.
Grade: B-
No. 230 Overall: Chris Paul, OG, Tulsa
Smart, tough player with a guard build who played tackle in college. He's a raw, long-term project but he seems like he has a better chance to succeed than most seventh-round guards because of his intangibles.
Grade: C+
No. 240 Overall: Christian Holmes, CB, Oklahoma State
Holmes' potential as a corner seems like practice squad or sixth CB at best. What makes him slightly intriguing is that at 6-foot, 201-pounds with his toughness, converting to safety is a possibility.
Grade: C
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