Is Jahan Dotson or Luke McCaffrey the WR2 for the Commanders?

May 30, 2024

After drafting Luke McCaffrey, is Jahan Dotson still the Commanders' WR2? Abby breaks down the Commanders WRs' outlook heading into the 2024 NFL season.

The Washington Commanders drafted Rice wide receiver Luke McCaffrey with the 100th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. His addition bolsters the Commanders offense around rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, who is expected to start in Week 1.

Despite being a third-round pick, McCaffrey is expected to make a big impact for the Commanders this year. He will join Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson in the wide receiver room for the NFC East franchise, and together they can form a solid trio for years to come.

While McLaurin is the clear-cut WR1 for the Commanders, who is the WR2 for the team? Has McCaffrey already solidified his spot as the team's secondary receiver over Dotson? Let's find out.

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Who is the Washington Commanders' WR2?

Jahan Dotson was the 16th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Although he has had moments of brilliance, the Penn State product hasn't had the impact a first-round pick is expected to make for his team.

Last year, he had 49 catches for 518 yards and scored four touchdowns in 17 games. Below-average quarterback play can be used as an excuse for Dotson not reaching his potential yet, but the franchise has full faith in him and he will start the season as the WR2 behind McLaurin.

Luke McCaffrey will start the season as the Commanders' WR3, but he has the potential to significantly increase his playing time by the end of the season. During his last year at Rice, McCaffrey had 71 receptions for 992 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also had 15 carries for 117 yards, and it shows that Christian McCaffrey's younger brother can be used as a versatile offensive weapon.

This upcoming year is crucial for Dotson, as he has to step up and make life easy for Jayden Daniels. If he has another subpar season for the franchise, then the Commanders might look to trade or replace him next year before picking up his fifth-year option.

McLaurin is coming off four straight seasons with 1,000+ receiving yards, despite the constant changing of quarterbacks for the franchise. If Daniels plays like he did at LSU, then the Commanders have the potential to have an explosive passing game in 2024.

The @JayD__5 ➡️@mccaffrey_luke connection is gonna hit this season. They’re both relentless workers and love to compete. Nice to see the rookies bringing the juice. #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/PJk7iiiSA8

— Hot Take Freddie (@HotTakeFreddie) May 14, 2024

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