The Eagles made two trades last year involving third-round picks to acquire Kenny Pickett and Jahan Dotson. Since they dealt Pickett to the Browns in March, they didn’t need to decide on his fifth-year option. However, they retained the option on Dotson—and have reportedly chosen not to exercise it, according to Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz.
Given Dotson’s underwhelming performance so far, it was always unlikely the Eagles would commit to the nearly $17 million guaranteed for 2026. Instead, 2025 will be the final year of his contract, making it a prove-it season.
Dotson had a quiet first year in Philly, with 19 receptions for 216 yards and no touchdowns during the regular season. He added a touchdown in the playoffs against Green Bay but saw limited opportunities in a run-heavy offense centered around Saquon Barkley and top pass-catchers A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert.
The Eagles have struggled to find a reliable third receiver during the Brown-Smith era, cycling through options like Jalen Reagor, Quez Watkins, Julio Jones, and now Dotson. While Dotson showed flashes in Washington with back-to-back 500-yard seasons and 11 total touchdowns, he hasn’t secured a clear role in Philadelphia. His Week 18 stats—when starters mostly rested—made up a significant chunk of his production.
Dotson qualified for the third tier of the option structure due to his snap count with Washington, but the Eagles decided the $16.82 million price tag wasn’t worth it. He’ll now compete with players like Ainias Smith and Terrace Marshall for the WR3 spot, and the Eagles might add another wideout in the draft—though that’s unlikely to be a priority given their investment in Brown and Smith.