Jahan Dotson named best prospect for KC Chiefs at Senior Bowl

The annual Senior Bowl is the primary portal for many fans of the National Football League into draft season. As a high-profile showcase of some of college football’s best and brightest, the exhibition for NFL prospects draws widespread coverage of not only the game but practice sessions as well.

Last year’s Senior Bowl featured both Oklahoma center Creed Humphrey and Tennessee guard Trey Smith, and both players ended up being Week 1 starters for the Kansas City Chiefs up front. Over the years, the Chiefs have typically grabbed at least one draft pick from the lot of players who show their skills in the Senior Bowl and it’s a good bet one of them will be drafted again this year.

At this year’s Senior Bowl, there are impressive players at multiple positions at which the Chiefs would benefit, but one in particular stood out for Sayre Bedinger of NFL Spin Zone as he named the best player at the Senior Bowl for each team. When it came to the Chiefs, he pointed to Penn State wide receiver Jahan Dotson.

Penn State wide receiver Jahan Dotson could gain some attention from the KC Chiefs with a standout Senior Bowl performance.

Wide receiver is certainly a good guess for a position at which the Chiefs are likely to invest a pick or even two, especially early in the draft. The Chiefs could have done so last year as well given the need at the position after watching Sammy Watkins leave for the Baltimore Ravens. This year, the lack of a dependable third target who can consistently create separation hurt the team at several points.

As for Dotson, he’s not the big, physical target pictured by most fans as the big need on offense given that’s a shade under 6’0″ but his production shows he can be very dangerous against opposing corners nonetheless. He’s got great burst, is an excellent route-runner, has dependable hands, and comes back to the ball well.

Last season, he had 91 catches for 1,182 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Nittany Lions in 12 games. He also comes with some punt return experience which would enhance his value for K.C.

The primary question here is whether Dotson would be available for the Chiefs at the slot they’re picking in the first round. The Chiefs would not only have to invest a first at wideout but they’d likely have to trade up to secure Dotson’s services.  If they’re comfortable with focusing on the position so early, Dotson could be the name called.

Then again, maybe these decisions aren’t yet made, in which case the Senior Bowl could really become an important performance for Dotson—if not for the Chiefs then for someone else.