It took a while for the Philadelphia Eagles‘ trade for wide receiver Jahan Dotson to pay off, but when it did, he made his presence felt.
Dotson, acquired in an August 2024 trade with the division-rival Washington Commanders, caught just 19 passes for 216 yards in his return to his home state before sparking the Eagles’ offense with a 27-yard reception early in Philadelphia’s Super Bowl LIX rout over the Kansas City Chiefs.
This spring, though, the former Penn State standout and Washington first-round draft choice is quickly getting on the same page with Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts in hopes of a more impactful 2025 campaign ahead.
“I think that time has been valuable,” Hurts told reporters on June 11. “It’s been valuable working with Jahan [Dotson], working with Terrace Marshall — he made a lot of big plays this offseason —, Dallas [Goedert], Grant [Calcaterra], Harrison [Bryant]. Everyone — Saquon [Barkley] out there. Everyone who was able to go and available, working with them and taking advantage of that, that was big.
“I think that’s important for developing that chemistry, and we all know the season can go any type of way, and so just making sure you kind of can have a foundation of some sort with everyone is important. And then I’ve also had the conversation with Coach Patullo of who’s available matters, but ultimately it’s about how we put them in a position to do what we’re going to do.”
For Dotson, he’s benefitted from the fact that top wideouts DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown haven’t participated in every single voluntary practice this spring, as well as the fact that he has an eight-month head start working with Hurts from his preseason arrival last summer.
While Brown and Smith occupy a majority of Hurts’ target-share and value to the success or failure of the Eagles’ offense, the fact that Dotson averaged 14.9 yards per target as a rookie is a reason to be optimistic that he can carve out a niche and gain his quarterback’s confidence stretching the field.
The 5-foot-11 and 184-pound Dotson is entering a contract year with a full offseason under his belt in Philadelphia, his budding chemistry with Hurts could signal a potential breakout that could elevate the Eagles’ already potent offense to new heights this fall.
Expectations Tempered for Eagles’ Offense in 2025?
It was the Eagles’ swarming and aggressive defense that paved the road to the Super Bowl last season, and it might once again prove to be Philadelphia’s winning formula in 2025.
As the upcoming season approaches, NFL Media analyst Gennaro Felice put together his preseason rankings of the top-10 NFL offenses, with the Eagles checking in at No. 7.
“While he provides undeniable value as a runner,” Felice writes of Hurts. “Particularly with his forward thrust on the “Tush Push” — Hurts doesn’t really take over games with his legs. All in all, the past two seasons just haven’t matched the individual output he produced under Shane Steichen in his MVP runner-up campaign of 2022.
“In related news, he now has his third new offensive coordinator in as many years, with former passing game coordinator Kevin Patullo promoted to the post after Kellen Moore took the top job in New Orleans. Heading into his fifth season as the full-time starter, the soon-to-be 27-year-old certainly could take a significant step forward. If he does, the offense will follow suit, and I’ll look stupid.”
Much of Felice’s premise is based on Hurts struggling to get on the same page with Patullo in a revamped scheme this season, with the Eagles’ quarterback suggests won’t be an issue because of so much offensive coordinator turnover in recent years.
“Yeah, I’m better at it,” Hurts told reporters, when asked if he’s better at adapting to a new coordinator this time around. “It’s been every year.”
If it’s as smooth a transition as Hurts experienced with Kellen Moore last season, with Patullo this fall, the Eagles’ offense has the potential to climb the rankings. The talent is in place, but much of Philadelphia’s trajectory on offense hinges on all parties involved quickly getting on the same page.
Saquon Barkley, Jalen Hurts Dominate Jersey Sales
As the 2025 season nears, Eagles stars Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts are among the highest-selling jerseys in the NFL.
According to the NFLPA, Barkley tops the list of jersey seals for the past year, with his No. 26 joined by Hurts’ No. 11 as the third-highest seeling jersey.
Impressively, Barkley is also the only non-quarterback in the top-six.
Here is the full top-10:
1. Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
2. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
3. Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles
4. Jayden Daniels, QB, Washington Commanders
5. C.J. Stroud, QB, Houston Texans
6. Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills
7. Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Detroit Lions
8. Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Detroit Lions
9. Micah Parsons, LB, Dallas Cowboys
10. Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings
