Washington Commanders Coach Dan Quinn Reveals Benefit of WR's Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson for Young QB

The Washington Commanders will have two reliable receivers for a potential rookie quarterback next season with Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson.

Dec 4, 2022; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Washington Commanders wide receivers Jahan Dotson (1) and Terry McLaurin (17). / Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

The success of a rookie quarterback is often dictated by their supporting cast.

The Washington Commanders are widely expected to take a quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and if that's the route they choose to go, they'll have two reliable weapons for them to throw to in receivers Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson. With that tandem, Commanders head coach Dan Quinn believes they can help bring balance to the offense, which can help a rookie quarterback thrive from the jump.

Dec 4, 2022; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Washington Commanders wide receivers Jahan Dotson (1) and Terry McLaurin (17). / Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

“I think the whole thing at any position you wanna make sure are you surrounded," Quinn said. "Do you have balance? Any quarterback's best friend [is] the ability to hand it off some cause that's where good play passes will come off of. If you have a strong run game [and] strong defense that can get the ball back, that's for any quarterback that we want to have and be able to support a balanced attack. [We can have] big play passes off of it. I wouldn't say it's as specific just to our situation here. That's really who we want to be all the time.”

The ability to run the ball will certainly buoy a rookie quarterback as well, but McLaurin and Dotson's being able to get open will be imperative for setting them up for success. McLaurin has been one of the more consistent receivers in football, as he has had four straight seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards and four touchdowns.

Dotson showed flashes in his rookie season with 35 catches for 523 yards and a team-high seven touchdowns in 12 games in 2022. He took a step back last year despite playing a full season, though, inconsistent quarterback play impacted his production. Dotson caught 49 passes for 518 yards and four touchdowns in 2023.

If Dotson can take the next step in his third season and McLaurin continues to be a No. 1 receiver for the Commanders, and they have balance with a strong running game, a rookie quarterback will be set up to thrive the moment they step on the field. And if a rookie quarterback can do that in their first season thanks to having targets like McLaurin and Dotson, it'd be a sign Washington's woes at the game's most important position may finally be near its end.