The Atlanta Falcons did what they had to do in free agency so far. First and foremost was shoring up their quarterback situation, signing former Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
Some of the rest was finding who he might be throwing to if Michael Penix Jr. doesn’t get the nod over him in Week 1.
With the Falcons releasing Darnell Mooney and KhaDarel Hodge, Atlanta had to find some sort of complements to the team’s top receiver in Drake London. Tight end Kyle Pitts, who was given the franchise tag, and running back Bijan Robinson have expansive enough roles as pass catchers.
To fix that, Atlanta went with familiarity in Olamide Zaccheaus as a depth piece and tight end Austin Hooper. They then added speed through former Philadelphia Eagles receiver Jahan Dotson.
There’s belief that Dotson could easily become the team’s WR2 behind London. However, the two-year, $15 million signing comes with concerns upon further evaluation.
Jahan Dotson’s Eagles’ Struggles May Be Problem For Falcons
Dotson is coming off two very lackluster seasons with the Eagles after being traded over from the Washington Commanders in 2024. In his first two seasons in Washington, he logged 84 catches for 1,041 yards and 11 touchdowns. In his last two seasons in Philadelphia, he caught 37 passes for just 478 yards and a single touchdown — and that came in 2024.
A closer look from ESPN analytics reveals why Dotson has statistically gone into a downward slope. Last season, Dotson ranked as the worst wide receiver in the NFL at getting open.
Jahan Dotson (PHI) Tyquan Thornton (KC) Jalen Tolbert (DAL) Alec Pierce (IND) Marquez Valdes-Scantling (PIT) Devaughn Vele (NO) Emeka Egbuka (TB) Isaiah Bond (CLE)
per ESPN’s player tracking data on all routes run
>30 targets to qualify
Grading on a scale from 0 to 99, with 99 being the best, Dotson scored a 23, with an overall grade of 24 that tied for sixth worst.
He was nearly as bad the season before, ranking second worst at getting open and tied for seventh worst overall with a score of 24.
What’s overly concerning about all this is that Dotson is known for his speed. He can reportedly run a 4.43-second 40-yard dash. But if he can’t use that speed to get open downfield, there’s not much use for him in this Falcons offense.
ESPN Analyst Questions Falcons’ Investment In Dotson
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell had his own concerns about Dotson, also pointing to his lack of production in Philadelphia over the last two years. He fears the Falcons may have overpaid him.
“We’ve already seen a handful of those deals handed out on the first day of free agency, and I’d be nervous about how they’ll play out for the teams involved,” Barnwell wrote. “The Falcons inked Jahan Dotson, who wasn’t able to command consistent targets as the third wideout in Philadelphia, to a two-year pact for $15 million.”
The Falcons won’t know whether they overpaid for Dotson or not until he hits the field. They’re hoping for the Dotson from the first two years of his career in Washington. At least Atlanta has a less crowded wide receiver corps than Philadelphia had, leaving the WR2 role there for the taking if he can seize it.
The real question, however, may become who is throwing him the ball. That will be something that lingers throughout the 2026 season as Tagovailoa and Penix battle it out.
Falcons Hit With Troubling News on $15M Free Agent WR Signing