Ex-Penn State football stars Barkley, Dotson put NFL on notice after joining forces in Philadelphia

The City of Brotherly Love is beginning to feel a little like Happy Valley East. The Philadelphia Eagles executed a rare in-division trade on Thursday, bringing in former Penn State football star wide receiver Jahan Dotson from the Washington Commanders. The deal unites Dotson with iconic Nittany Lions running back Saquon Barkley, who is also a newcomer to Philadelphia this offseason.

The Eagles acquired Jahan Dotson from the Commanders along with a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft in exchange for a third and two seventh-round picks in next year’s draft. The 16th overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, Dotson caught 84 passes for 1,041 yards and 11 touchdowns over his first two seasons.

Dotson now joins potentially one of the most potent offenses in the NFL. Saquon Barkley quickly reacted to the news, tweeting at his new teammate while also putting the rest of the league on notice.

@JahanDotson let’s get it 😤😤#610 https://t.co/2w1gexusXF

— Saquon Barkley (@saquon) August 22, 2024

After six years with the New York Giants, Saquon Barkley joined the Philadelphia Eagles during NFL free agency in March.

Beyond their Penn State football bond, Barkley and Dotson also share ties to eastern Pennsylvania. Both hail from the Lehigh Valley, with Barkley playing his high school football for Whitehall and Dotson for nearby Nazareth.

Orvolsky: Penn State letterman gives Eagles the “best wide receiver trio” in the NFL

Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

The Philadelphia Eagles already had a backfield staffed by the dynamic duo of Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley combined with a passing attack led by AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith out wide and Dallas Goedert at tight end.

But now with Jahan Dotson in the mix, the Eagles have cemented themselves as the best wide receiver room in football, says ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orvolsky.

“I think this has now given Philadelphia the best wide receiver trio in football,” Orvolsky said of the trade on Thursday. “The Eagles have the best wide receiver trio with AJ Brown, DeVonta, and Jahan Dotson. This was a really good offense to begin with. If Dotson just replicates what he did, which is 50 or so catches and 500 yards at that No. 3 wide receiver spot, I don’t know of anyone in the NFC that can line up and play man-to-man coverage against those four pass catchers.”

"The Eagles have the best wide receiver trio."

@DanOrvolsky7 thinks A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Jahan Dotson will dominate the NFC ✍️ pic.twitter.com/TtuTukbbNF

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) August 22, 2024

Philadelphia will conclude preseason action against the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday afternoon. The first time we’ll officially see the former Penn State football star in Eagles green will be in Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers on Friday, September 6.

Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation, one of the fastest-growing outlets covering Penn State athletics. Part of the Full Ride network, we are an alumni-owned, community-operated, credentialed media outlet dedicated to providing you with updated and reliable insights for all your favorite Nittany Lion sports. Whether it’s Penn State football, basketball, wrestling, or anything in between, you can find it all on Basic Blues Nation!

Please follow us on our social channels, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube, and subscribe to our newsletter on Substack for breaking news and notifications. For feedback, questions, or concerns, please email us at [email protected] or direct message us on our social media.