Jayden Daniels

Commanders Expected To Start Jayden Daniels In Week 8

October 27th, 2024 at 8:26am CST by Sam Robinson

Jayden Daniels did not make it too far into the Commanders’ Week 7 game. Although the team routed the Panthers in that matchup behind backup Marcus Mariota, as Daniels’ effort to reenter the game proved unsuccessful, the resurgent NFC East team does not look ready to give its newfound franchise QB more time off.

While it is not yet certain Daniels suits up in Week 8 against the Bears despite his rib injury, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter notes all signs point to that taking place. Daniels missed two practices this week and only logged a limited session Friday.

It would be understandable for a Washington team — one that has certainly struggled to find a long-term quarterback over the past few decades — to be cautious with its dual-threat dynamo, but Daniels is trending toward returning. The Commanders initially viewed their prized prospect as suffering a minor injury, so it would not come as a shock if he returned without missing a start. Still, with Daniels’ skillset featuring extensive run-game work, it will be interesting to see if the Commanders show caution with their play-calling should he return today.

Daniels, who left the Carolina matchup in the first quarter, will be tested in pregame warmups. The odds appear on the side of him returning Mariota to the bench, which would be an interesting turn of events due to the 2023 Heisman winner’s play style and his status as the Commanders’ long-sought-after franchise quarterback.

The former LSU and Arizona State starter has made tremendous progress early in his NFL career. He enters Week 8 ranked behind only Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson in QBR. Daniels leads the NFL in completion percentage (75.6), buoyed by his 21-for-23 showing in Cincinnati, and has managed this connect rate while averaging 8.4 yards per attempt. Washington has seen a few first-round QB investments (Jason Campbell, Robert Griffin III, Dwayne Haskins) fail to pan out over the past 20 years, but Daniels has the look of a player who could become the team’s longest-tenured QB1 since at least Joe Theismann.

Mariota resides as decent Daniels insurance, however, having completed 18 of 23 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns against Carolina on Sunday. Washington’s other Heisman-winning passer has not made a start since the 2022 season with the Falcons, one that ended with a Mariota knee surgery and a strange departure from the team upon being benched for Desmond Ridder. The Commanders gave Mariota, the Eagles’ 2023 backup, a one-year deal worth $6MM in March.

Daniels, 24, returning would mean a faceoff against No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams. This development would certainly please CBS execs, as the NFL moved the game to the late-afternoon window recently. The Commanders lead the NFC East at 5-2 and are seeking their first division title since 2020.

QB Rumors: Falcons, Daniels, Rams, Titans

October 23rd, 2024 at 3:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Falcons‘ offseason quarterback plan drew considerable scrutiny, and evaluators are skeptical the team will carry it out. Kirk Cousins, who sits third in the NFL with 1,830 passing yards (highlighted by a 500-yard showing against the Buccaneers), is entrenched as Atlanta’s starting QB presently. Though, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes some around the league do not believe the Falcons will sit No. 8 overall pick Michael Penix Jr. for two seasons like they have planned to do. A Penix push toward a 2025 starting job would stand to bring forth Cousins trade rumors.

While nothing concrete has emerged on the Cousins front, this is not the first time execs have predicted a 2025 Falcons QB trade. Some in May predicted the long-rumored Cousins-Kyle Shanahan reunion would commence — if the 49ers become squeamish on a Brock Purdy megadeal. The Falcons have Cousins signed through 2027, though they have a clear out in 2026 — after $90MM of his $100MM guarantee will have been paid out. Penix, however, is already 24. Sitting the southpaw prospect until his age-26 season would not be optimal for the Falcons. Cousins’ 2025 money is fully guaranteed, which will be challenging for a trade. But if Penix’s development moves this situation toward a potential 2025 controversy, expect another offseason of Cousins rumors.

Here is the latest from the QB ranks:

Jayden Daniels did not practice Wednesday, moving Marcus Mariota closer to making his first start since 2022. The rib injury the Commanders QB sustained is not considered serious, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, but it would also not surprise — given the way Daniels winced after trying to return in Week 7 — if Washington exercised caution with the player who has a great chance of being the team’s first long-term QB1 in decades. Mariota played effectively against the Panthers but has not made a start since his controversial Falcons exit in December 2022.
The Titans have not seen their Will Levis development project produce notable strides. Crippling turnovers have played a key role in Tennessee’s 1-5 start, and Levis is now leading with a shoulder injury. Among qualified options, the 2023 second-rounder ranks ahead of only Deshaun Watson in QBR. As such, SI.com’s Albert Breer guesses the franchise will go into 2025 with an objective to find a new quarterback. It is still early, but at this rate, Tennessee giving Levis a third year to prove he can be a locked-in starter would be a reach. Ran Carthon‘s club would be an interesting destination, given the resources allocated to upgrading the offensive talent level around Levis this offseason.
Ditto the Rams, who have Matthew Stafford on a year-to-year arrangement. The Rams have not dangled Stafford in trades this year, separating the 16th-year veteran from Cooper Kupp, but they also did not authorize significant guarantee upgrades — like the QB sought — beyond 2024. As a result, Breer adds the team should be considered in play to draft Stafford’s heir apparent next year. Los Angeles is running out of time to land a successor who would develop behind Stafford, who is signed through 2026. Adding assets to help with that potential mission could be on the team’s mind now, as a Kupp trade would go toward that haul. The Rams and Chiefs discussed Kupp, but L.A.’s asking price — a second-rounder — may be steep for a player who has battled injuries in each of the seasons since his transcendent 2021.
Aaron Rodgers does not appear in jeopardy of missing Week 8, but the Jets quarterback is now on the team’s injury report with three maladies. The 40-year-old starter is battling hamstring, knee and ankle maladies. Rodgers’ hamstring “flared up” against the Steelers, ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini tweets.

Jayden Daniels Named Commanders’ Starting QB

August 19th, 2024 at 9:33pm CST by Adam La Rose

To little surprise, Jayden Daniels will begin his career atop the quarterback depth chart. Commanders head coach Dan Quinn confirmed on Monday the second overall pick will serve as the team’s starter for Week 1.

Washington added veteran Marcus Mariota in free agency as an experienced option capable of serving as a bridge starter if needed. Once Daniels’ name was called on Day 1 of the draft, though, it was clear he would take on first-team duties sooner rather than later. A June report noted Daniels was the favorite to get the nod ahead of training camp and the preseason.

This summer, the Arizona State and LSU product has impressed Quinn and the coaching staff (while splitting starting practice reps with Mariota). After a strong outing against the Dolphins this weekend, a commitment has been made with plenty of time remaining before Daniels’ rookie season kicks off. His ability to translate last season’s success to the NFL level will be a central storyline for the Commanders in 2024 and beyond as they aim to rebuild around his dual-threat skillset.

Daniels transferred to the Tigers ahead of the 2022 campaign, one in which he saw notable development in his completion percentage while adding a strong touchdown-to-interception ratio. He took another step forward this past season, posting 3,812 yards at a 72.2% accuracy rate, 40 touchdowns and four interceptions. He added 1,134 yards and 10 scores on the ground.

Those figures won him the Heisman Trophy and confirmed his status as one of the top signal-callers in the 2024 class. Caleb Williams only took one visit – with the Bears – during the pre-draft process, confirming well in advance he would be headed to Chicago. That left the Commanders with a decision to make between Daniels and Drake Maye as a quarterback of the future. Their decision to select the 23-year-old will be tested right away in 2024.

With Quinn and a new staff (including offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury) in place, along with Adam Peters now serving as general manager to lead a revamped front office, improvement in Year 2 of Josh Harris‘ ownership tenure will be expected for Washington. A bevy of free agent signings will play roles in determining the team’s success on that front, but so too will many members of the 2024 draft class. Daniels heads that group, and he will be entrusted with handling first-team responsibilities right away.

QB Notes: Tua, Rodgers, Daniels, Steelers

July 24th, 2024 at 4:24pm CST by Sam Robinson

Tua Tagovailoa is not holding in, separating the Dolphins‘ top negotiation from multiple others around the NFL. This includes Jordan Love‘s Packers arrangement, which has become a hold-in situation. Despite Tagovailoa having a longer track record than Love, the fifth-year passer went through Dolphins workouts Wednesday. This did come with a notable exception. Tagovailoa took only two reps (both handoffs) in Dolphins team drills to open camp, per ESPN.com’s Marcel Louis-Jacques. Mike McDaniel said Tagovailoa’s camp workload — absent an extension — would compare to OTAs; the lefty did not go through team drills then or during minicamp. We heard Monday this would likely be the route Tagovailoa takes.

The Dolphins have been negotiating with Tua for months, and while some optimism has emerged, Miami’s QB1 has turned down at least one offer and may have seen the team dig in on a price south of Trevor Lawrence‘s $55MM-per-year deal. Lawrence receiving $142MM may also be much higher than the Dolphins want to go. McDaniel said (via the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson) both sides are “relentlessly” working on this agreement. The parties still have time to hammer out a deal before the season, but the longer this goes, the closer Tua comes to carrying a lofty franchise tag number (upwards of $40MM) on Miami’s 2025 cap sheet.

Here is the latest QB news coming out of training camp:

Aaron Rodgers confirmed a trip to Egypt indeed led to his missing minicamp and confirmed the Jets fined him for the unexcused absences. Rodgers has been criticized for a lack of leadership by skipping the offseason’s only mandatory workout, but he said his relationship with Robert Saleh has been unaffected. “I’m an adult; I knew what I was getting into,” Rodgers said, via ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini. “I knew the fine that was coming and also knew how much I wanted to be in Egypt. I wish there hadn’t been a conflict scheduling-wise, but it was what it was.” Rodgers, who said be based the trip on the Jets’ 2023 offseason schedule, had shown up for OTAs prior to the abrupt — to the public, at least — departure.
Jayden Daniels does not have Commanders first-string reps to himself just yet; the No. 2 overall pick is splitting them with free agency addition Marcus Mariota, the Washington Post’s Sam Fortier notes. While Dan Quinn is labeling this a QB competition, Fortier cautions that Daniels is all but assured of the starting job. This follows a report that pointed to the Commanders indeed feeling no real reason to hold back the 2023 Heisman winner by giving Mariota bridge work.
Although the Daniels-Mariota split may deprive the highly touted rookie from early reps, Washington is holding an actual battle for the No. 3 spot. The team is pitting rookie UDFA Sam Hartman against veteran Jeff Driskel, Fortier adds. The former Notre Dame starter, who has a safety net via the UFL’s Birmingham Stallions’ recent draft choice, played behind Driskel to start camp. It is not yet clear if the Commanders plan to keep three QBs, but the winner of this battle would stand to at least be the team’s emergency option in the event only two are rostered.
Prior to the USFL and XFL merging, Ben DiNucci played in the former league’s second season and spent last year as the Broncos’ third-stringer. The recent Russell Wilson teammate worked out for the 13-year vet’s new team this week, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, who notes the Steelers brought in the veteran. Pittsburgh has Kyle Allen in place behind Wilson and Justin Fields presently.

Commanders’ Jayden Daniels Likely To Open Season As Starting QB?

June 16th, 2024 at 10:43pm CST by Rory Parks

The Commanders naturally expected QB Jayden Daniels, the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft, to become their starting signal-caller sooner rather than later. While Washington acquired veteran Marcus Mariota in free agency as a potential bridge option, Daniels seemingly has a firm grasp on the top spot on the depth chart.

As Fox Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano writes, Daniels appears “entrenched” as the Commanders’ starting quaterback. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner took most of the first-team reps during last week’s mandatory minicamp, and Vacchiano says there has been no indication that will change when training camp opens next month.

New GM Adam Peters zeroed in on Daniels as soon as he began to watch the rookie’s college game tape, and Daniels has lived up to the hype during the Commanders’ offseason work. Per Vacchiano, Daniels had an “outstanding spring,” and both his passing ability and running ability were on full display.

Daniels’ work ethic was one of the attributes that sold Peters on the former LSU passer, and head coach Dan Quinn and Pro Bowl wideout Terry McLaurin both cited that work ethic when discussing Daniels with the media.

“Not only does the physical traits show up, its the work ethic,” Quinn said. “I think that through the years and through the season, you guys will feel that and see that.”

“He’s going to be a really good player because of the time and the work that he puts in,” McLaurin added. “I don’t think I’ve had a young quarterback that really has come in and, within the first week, he’s like, ‘Hey, can we (work on) this route?’ or, ‘Let me get this rep after practice?’ It’s exciting for me.”

To be clear, Quinn said no decisions have been made about who the starting quarterback will be (via ESPN’s John Keim). Vacchiano, though, believes that regardless of what Quinn says publicly, the job is Daniels’ to lose, and the team does not expect him to lose it. Indeed, as Quinn himself said (via Keim), “he’s further along than you probably should be. … He really has a very firm handle on the things that we’re doing, but he also has the humility of a young player … knowing he has a lot to prove.”

Daniels, who recently put pen to paper on his four-year, $37.75MM rookie contract, said, “I ain’t a star quarterback yet. … I still got a long way to go to be where I want to be. (I) try to perfect it, try to be a perfectionist as much as possible.”

Apparently, he will get plenty of opportunity to perfect his craft with the first-team offense when training camp rolls around, and at this point, it would be a surprise if he is not under center on Week 1.

Commanders Sign First-Round QB Jayden Daniels

June 14th, 2024 at 3:11pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Commanders and their top draft choice have crossed off the rookie-deal step in this partnership. No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels agreed to terms on his four-year intro NFL pact, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets.

Daniels will be tied to a fully guaranteed $37.75MM deal, one that will come with a fifth-year option for the 2028 season. This marks the third first-round slot deal for a QB for Washington, which drafted Robert Griffin III second overall in 2012 and Dwayne Haskins 15th overall in 2019.

Although some Drake Maye rumors emerged with this draft slot during the run-up to this year’s selection event, Daniels became the widely expected choice. The Commanders rebuffed Raiders interest in the pick. Only one offer is believed to have come in for the selection. Given Antonio Pierce‘s interest in reuniting with the former Arizona State recruit, it was viewed as likely Las Vegas submitted that proposal for No. 2 overall. The Commanders put that issue to rest by drafting the LSU-developed Heisman winner, and the Adam Peters-Dan Quinn regime will build around the dual-threat quarterback.

Washington did not need to give up any assets for Daniels, separating this selection from the 2012 RG3 process, as last year’s eight-game losing streak to close the season secured the No. 2 draft slot behind Chicago. Not many rumors about the Bears’ preference emerged during the pre-draft period, as Caleb Williams was the runaway favorite to begin this draft. As weeks passed, Commanders rumors slowed. Despite Maye being viewed for months as the 1-B in this class, Daniels’ dominant 2023 season allowed him to leapfrog the two-year North Carolina starter.

Transferring from Arizona State in 2022, Daniels — like multiple other QBs in this year’s first round — shined after relocating. While Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix became first-round picks after moving to the Pac-12, Daniels trekked east to raise his stock. Daniels posted an eye-popping stat line in his final season with the Tigers, throwing 40 touchdown passes (compared to four interceptions) and rushing for 1,134 yards and 10 more TDs. Altogether, Daniels accounted for 4,946 yards in 12 games.

After entering his final college season far from a lock to go in the first round, the slender QB will attempt to give Washington its first dependable QB answer since Kirk Cousins. The team traded Sam Howell to the Seahawks and added former No. 2 overall pick Marcus Mariota in free agency. While Mariota showed in Atlanta he remains capable as a starter, it would surprise if Daniels was not on the field in Week 1.

Daniels’ frame has generated some concerns, with various sources noting the QB weighed in the 180s and 190s during his college seasons. He checked in at 210 pounds this offseason. Bryce Young‘s rookie-year struggles, after ballooning to 204 pounds for his Combine weigh-in, showed the risks an undersized QB can bring. The Panthers, of course, are not giving up on the 2023 top pick just yet; Daniels also offers a much higher upside as a runner by comparison. The five-year college QB’s ability to protect himself this season will be paramount, however.

Griffin’s inability to stay healthy preceded a quick decline after a dazzling rookie season, and Washington could not re-sign Cousins after a lengthy franchise tag saga. Alex Smith did come back from his gruesome leg injury, but he retired soon after that surprising re-emergence. The team’s Carson Wentz effort failed, and it passed on a big-ticket pursuit — centering its offseason around Howell — last year. Following years of half-measure efforts to staff this job, Washington hired a new regime that will bet on Daniels.

Commanders GM Adam Peters Addresses Jayden Daniels Selection

May 5th, 2024 at 10:05pm CST by Rory Parks

The Commanders landed LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 overall pick in last month’s draft, a pick that generated a great deal of the usual speculation and conjecture in the weeks leading up to the event. For instance, multiple sources suggested that Michigan passer J.J. McCarthy would be Washington’s selection, while others thought that UNC’s Drake Maye would be first-year GM Adam Peters‘ choice (and still others believed Peters should trade down).

In a piece detailing the Commanders’ evaluation of Daniels, which will be especially relevant to Washington fans, John Keim of ESPN.com notes that Peters did indeed have a high grade on McCarthy thanks to the former Wolverine’s efficiency, strong arm, and mobility. McCarthy ultimately slotted right behind Daniels on the Commanders’ list of QB options and ahead of Maye and Michael Penix Jr., whom the team also scouted heavily.

In 2023, Peters was with the 49ers, a club that was not in the market for a first-round passer. So he did not begin evaluating the 2024 draft class of blue chip signal-callers before he took the Washington job, but once he finally got to review Daniels’ film, he became “smitten” with the reigning Heisman Trophy winner.

“The way he can process, the way he can see the field, the way he goes through his reads, the way he delivers [the ball] on time,” Peters said. “He’s the best deep-ball thrower in the draft, and that’s even before we start watching him run and the way he runs he just takes your soul as a defense. You think you got him and then all of a sudden, he rips off a 40-yard run. And this is against the SEC, the best of the best.”

Prior to the interview that team brass conducted with Daniels at the scouting combine in February, Peters told a group including owner Josh Harris, head coach Dan Quinn, offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, and front office consultant Bob Myers that “something has to happen [for the pick] to not be Jayden.”

As the predraft process went on, Peters’ conviction only got stronger as he realized that Daniels’ work ethic and character matched the quality of his game tape. As Keim details, Daniels had the passcode changed at an LSU facility so he could put in more work when the facility would have otherwise been locked, and he also arranged for 5 a.m. workouts with his receivers, a feat that one team source said was particularly impressive to Peters.

Peters also received glowing reviews on Daniels from respected voices back in San Francisco, including Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, one of Daniels’ close friends. Peters said that he never considered trading back in the draft and taking the Commanders out of the running for Daniels, and it sounds as if rival clubs knew he was entrenched in his position. The GM said that he received only one offer for the No. 2 pick — presumably from the Raiders, who were known to covet Daniels — but that proposal “didn’t move the needle.”

It is not yet a sure thing that Daniels will be Washington’s starting quarterback on Week 1 of the 2024 campaign, with free agent acquisition Marcus Mariota available to serve as a bridge to the Daniels era if necessary. Sooner or later, though, Daniels will take the reins, and Peters is delighted by his club’s good fortune.

“We couldn’t be happier,” he said.

Latest On Giants, Vikings’ Offers For Patriots’ No. 3 Overall Pick

April 30th, 2024 at 2:06pm CST by Sam Robinson

While Drake Maye generated split opinions as a prospect during the pre-draft process, the Patriots have a rookie quarterback other teams coveted. New England’s reassembled front office has the trade proposals to confirm the interest.

The Patriots did not close off trade avenues, holding talks leading up to going on the clock for their highest draft choice in 31 years. But buzz in the hours leading up to the draft all but locked in Maye to Foxborough. The Giants and Vikings, who each had been viewed as having steady interest in the North Carolina prospect, did make notable offers for the pick.

We heard post-draft the Giants continued to pursue Maye while the Pats were on the clock. Big Blue offered New England its 2025 first-rounder to move from No. 6 to No. 3; New York’s package included that 2025 first and its second-rounder (No. 47) this year, according to ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan. The Vikings were OK unloading their No. 23 pick (along with No. 11) and their 2025 first to climb to No. 3, per ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss. Ultimately, the Pats balked and will build around Maye.

Considering how the Giants proceeded at No. 6, their pursuit of Maye qualifies as significant. The team has regrouped around Daniel Jones, despite doing steady work on this class’ top QBs. The Giants chose Malik Nabers over J.J. McCarthy, Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix. Each passer visited the team during the draft run-up, with Raanan adding the team did not have this QB crop’s second tier graded highly enough for an investment at No. 6.

“We had a lot of conversations with a lot of teams,” Giants GM Joe Schoen said. “I’m not going to get into specifics. We had a really good player at six. That was a position that I think was a need that we needed to upgrade. I’m fired up about the kid.”

The Giants’ Maye interest points to another make-or-break season for Jones, whose $40MM-per-year contract can be shed without too much damage in 2025. Jones performed well enough in his previous “prove it” season (2022), becoming the first QB to see his fifth-year option declined and then re-sign with that team. And Nabers profiles as the top target the 2019 first-rounder has been given while with the Giants. But Jones, who is expected to be finished with ACL rehab by training camp, is clearly on the clock once again.

The Vikings’ proposal also included two Patriots mid-round picks this year going to Minnesota, per Reiss. Going into the draft, the Patriots were not impressed with the offers they had received. As the Giants’ 2025 first-rounder dangled as an important chip — as the Pats would have only stepped back three spots in this draft and picked up a second — the Vikings essentially had to include two future firsts to present a viable offer. It cost the 49ers their 2022 and ’23 first-rounders, along with a third, to vault nine spots (No. 12 to No. 3) for Trey Lance in 2021. After New England passed, Minnesota did not end up needing to trade its No. 23 overall pick — later used to move up for Dallas Turner — to land McCarthy.

Each of this draft’s non-Caleb Williams first-round QBs trekked to Minnesota to meet with the Vikings before the draft. All but Jayden Daniels participated in a workout, with SI.com’s Albert Breer adding Daniels — who did not go through QB drills at the Combine or LSU’s pro day — passed on this part of the Vikings visit. Daniels had long been expected to go No. 2 to Washington, which was far less likely to trade the pick — despite the Raiders’ efforts — compared to the Patriots.

After Mac Jones could not sustain his rookie-year momentum — as the Pats cycled through offensive coordinators post-Josh McDaniels — Maye will be tasked with growing into a franchise-caliber passer. The 6-foot-4 prospect may well begin the season behind Jacoby Brissett, but given how this process usually goes, the two-year North Carolina starter should be expected to begin Pats QB1 work well before this season ends.

QB Draft Notes: Penix, Daniels, Nix, Raiders

April 26th, 2024 at 5:26pm CST by Adam La Rose

The biggest surprise of the first round was Michael Penix Jr. hearing his name called eighth overall. The Falcons added to their quarterback room with their top selection, despite having signed Kirk Cousins in free agency last month.

The latter was taken aback by the decision, one which he became aware of while Atlanta was on the clock. Cousins is in place as the starter for multiple years, leaving Penix as a long-term developmental option (albeit one who is older than many other Day 1 signal-callers placed in a similar position). To no surprise, plenty of speculation has resulted from the Penix selection.

Owner Arthur Blank is believed to have driven this move, Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda reports. The quarterback position was seen as a sore spot entering the 2024 offseason and while the Cousins signing marked a short-term upgrade, the Penix addition is of course one aimed at future stability under center. Owners are often involved in major moves at the top of the draft board such as this one, but how the 2024 season (and beyond) unfolds with GM Terry Fontenot and head coach Raheem Morris at the helm will make for a key storyline vis-à-vis Penix’s path to playing time.

Here are some other QB-related draft notes:

Penix was the fourth signal-caller selected on Thursday, but Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer notes the Heisman runner-up was ranked third on the Falcons’ board. Some in the organization even had Penix second, Breer adds. The Washington alum was seen in some circles as a borderline Day 1 prospect, but his top-10 selection has cemented his status as a central figure in Atlanta’s long-term plans while also helping the value of his rookie contract.
As the top of the first round order played according to expectation, Jayden Daniels was selected second overall by the Commanders. That move came about after the team held an unusual evaluation featuring overlapping visits amongst the class’ best quarterbacks. While that limited Daniels’ availability to get face-to-face time on his own in many respects, Breer notes the Heisman winner was the only prospect who was permitted an “extended, exclusive meeting” with new owner Josh Harris. Given that update, it comes as even less of a surprise Washington followed through with drafting Daniels upon turning down trade interest.
Bo Nix was often mentioned alongside Penix as part of the 2024 class’ second tier of passers. Denver added him with the No. 12 pick, though, making him the sixth QB to hear his name called. The Broncos had Nix positioned third on their board, per Troy Renck of the Denver Post. With every other Day 1 passer having previously come off the board, that internal ranking is of course a relatively moot point. Nix will nevertheless enter one of the more intriguing quarterback rooms in 2024.
One of the suitors left out in terms of QB pursuit was the Raiders, a team known to have been very high on Daniels in particular. Vegas’ decision-makers were of the opinion there was a “sizable gap” between the top tier of Caleb Williams, Daniels and Drake Maye and the other passers, however, as The Athletic’s Vic Tafur reports (subscription required). For that reason, Tafur notes it would have been unlikely the Raiders drafted Penix or Nix even if they were on the board with the 13th pick. In an case, the team added tight end Brock Bowers with its top selection as part of the unprecedented run on offensive players to begin the draft.

Commanders Draft QB Jayden Daniels With No. 2 Overall Pick

April 25th, 2024 at 7:27pm CST by Ely Allen

The Commanders have not had a single quarterback start the majority of their games for two seasons in a row since Kirk Cousins did so in 2016 and 2017.

Since then, the team has seen Alex Smith, Josh Johnson, Colt McCoy, Mark Sanchez, Case Keenum, Dwayne Haskins, Kyle Allen, Taylor Heinicke, Garrett Gilbert, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Carson Wentz, and Sam Howell all start games under center in Washington. While the trend of consecutive seasons is set to continue 2024, the Commanders will hope to put an end to that trend by drafting Jayden Daniels, quarterback out of LSU.

While Daniels was linked heavily to the Raiders, due to his history with new head coach Antonio Pierce during their time at Arizona State, it is Washington who walks away from Day 1 of the draft with the 23-year-old on their roster.

Pierce and the Raiders reached out late to inquire about a possible trade up to the No. 2 overall spot, but despite their efforts, no trade transpired. There were also rumors that Daniels would refuse to play for Washington and could force a trade, but the LSU quarterback denied those rumors, and Daniels will head to the nation’s capital to compete with Howell for the starting job.

Daniels started his college career at Arizona State, where he became the first ever true freshman to start the season opener for the Sun Devils. After a COVID-19 pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Daniels struggled in his third year in Tempe, resulting in his transfer to Baton Rouge. At LSU, Daniels was back to his old self and more. In 2022, he matched his impressive freshman passing stats while leading the country in rushing yards for a quarterback.

This past year, Daniels not only improved his rushing prowess, running for 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns on only 135 carries, but he also showed a stark improvement in his passing abilities. After previously failing to surpass 3,000 passing yards or 20 touchdowns, Daniels completed 72.2 percent of his passes for 3,812 yards and an incredible 40 touchdowns while only getting intercepted four times. He finished 2023 seventh in the FBS in completion percentage, fifth in passing yards, first in passing yards per attempt, second in passing touchdowns, and first in rating. He also, once again, led the nation’s quarterbacks in rushing yards. These impressive efforts resulted in Daniels being awarded the Heisman Trophy and the Davey O’Brien Award (awarded to the NCAA’s best quarterback).

In Washington, Daniels will now have the opportunity to compete with Howell for the starting job. Howell led the Commanders to a 4-13 record in his first season as a full-time starter. While he was able to amass 3,946 passing yards and 21 passing touchdowns, he and the team’s struggles were highlighted by Howell leading the NFL in pass attempts (612), interceptions (21), and sacks taken (65).

Daniels will also be inherited by a new coaching staff that includes former Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn as the new head coach. Daniels’ new mentor, though, will be new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury who famously brought up Patrick Mahomes at Texas Tech before handling Kyler Murray‘s first few seasons in Arizona. It will be interesting to see if the Commanders make Daniels earn the starting job in a position battle with Howell, or if they decide to instill their confidence in him by announcing him as the future at the position.

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