Dotson

The Associated Press

ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Commanders have selected Penn State wide receiver Jahan Dotson with the 16th pick in the NFL draft after trading down in the first round o n Thursday night.

Dotson gives the new quarterback Carson Wentz another target and provides the Commanders offense with a slot receiver to pair with top wideout Terry McLaurin and Curtis Samuel. Dotson was the fifth receiver taken after Drake London, Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave and Jameson Williams.

Olave was available for the Commanders with the 11th pick, but they traded down with New Orleans, who took the Ohio State product amid a run of receivers. Washington got a third- and a fourth-round pick from New Orleans to move down from 11 to 16. The trade for the 98th and 120th picks allowed Ron Rivera to recoup some assets after giving up a third-rounder in the deal to get Wentz from Indianapolis.

Dotson had 91 catches for 1,182 yards and 12 touchdowns during his senior season with the Nittany Lions. The 5-foot-11 Dotson wound up with 183 catches for 2,757 and 25 TDs in four years at Penn State.

The Commanders have two picks tonight, one each in the second and third round (47 and 98).