These players are thriving thanks to Jayden Daniels' presence.
Jayden Daniels made an impressive start to life with the Washington Commanders. The quarterback knows what a huge responsibility this is. He came into the organization with an exceptional attitude, winning over teammates and coaches with high-level production in practice and an exceptional work ethic away from the field.
This is a great start, but the hard work is just getting started. Daniels must continue on his upward trajectory and take on coaching when things get more intense at Washington's training camp. How much he'll feature during the preseason remains to be seen, but the Commanders would be wise to get some reps into the player before he takes the field in Week 1 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Daniels is the embodiment of the good vibes emanating from the Commanders currently. He's calm and vibrant, possessing a natural aura that people can get behind. This quickly became synonymous with the atmosphere across the franchise thanks to the new regime's sterling recruitment and coaching methods.
The former LSU star is rubbing off positively on those he's going into battle with. On this topic, here are three Commanders players benefitting greatly from Daniels' smooth transition from college to the pros.
Jahan Dotson - Commanders WR
This is a big upcoming season for Jahan Dotson. The Washington Commanders need the former first-round pick to go from a moderate performer to a breakout star. He's also got the quarterback capable of spearheading his potential renaissance.
Dotson wanted the Commanders to draft Daniels. He got his wish and the encouraging chemistry developed between the two over early offseason workouts can serve both in good stead next season.
The Commanders believed Dotson could be a legitimate No. 2 option alongside Terry McLaurin when they took him No. 16 overall during the 2021 NFL Draft out of Penn State. Unfortunately, the jury is still out entering Year 3 of his professional career.
Dotson now has a quarterback who can make him more of a vertical threat, which is something that took the college football world by storm once upon a time. Maximizing this opportunity will be crucial to cement his status as a long-term cornerstone piece.
Luke McCaffrey - Commanders WR
Jayden Daniels is a tremendous quarterback with the world at his feet. Unfortunately, he cannot do it alone.
The Washington Commanders need to surround their prized possession with the right environment in which to thrive. They've accomplished this on the coaching side looking at the staff put together by Dan Quinn. Whether the Heisman Trophy winner has enough playmakers capable of helping him take the league by storm is up for debate.
Adam Peters opted to tweak the wide receiver room rather than go with any drastic alterations. Arguably the most notable arrival was third-round selection Luke McCaffery, who the Commanders had enough conviction to take No. 100 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft despite his lack of experience at the wideout spot in college.
McCaffrey is an unknown quantity. The athleticism means progress should be quick. He's also got the NFL bloodline to raise further optimism. At the same time, expecting miracles from the former Rice standout is unfair and unrealistic in equal measure.
There's a lot of hard work ahead for McCaffrey, especially considering he's got two years of wide receiver experience. Getting up to speed quickly is paramount, but having Daniels to help is already reaping significant rewards.
According to coaches and players, this duo is the first into the building every day before practice. They go over film and walk through their responsibilities before linking up with teammates later in the morning. This ensures they're fully prepared and also developing chemistry along the way.
This blossoming connection caught the eye on several occasions over early offseason workouts. McCaffrey's timing with his signal-caller looks right on point - something that's led many to wonder whether he can become a focal point in the passing attack much sooner than anticipated.
If the same trend continues during camp, McCaffrey and Daniels might be able to hit it off when competitive action arrives. That would be the biggest bonus imaginable given the questions around others in the wideout room.
Terry McLaurin - Commanders WR
Terry McLaurin hasn't had any consistent quarterback play since joining the Washington Commanders. The wide receiver remains underrated as a result despite achieving 1,000-yard receiving seasons for the last four years. With Jayden Daniels raising expectations across the franchise, this is arguably the most important tandem of all on the offensive side of things.
McLaurin is suitably impressed by what he's seen from Daniels over early offseason workouts. He's commended the player for adopting the right mindset and working hard to prove himself to more established veterans. The wideout is also making his presence felt during his initial development, passing on helpful hints to raise performance levels where the promising signal-caller is concerned.
This is being reciprocated. Daniels is not afraid to let McLaurin know his demands and what's expected within new schematic concepts. The fact that the No. 2 pick is voicing his opinion to an undisputed locker room alpha speaks volumes.
If McLaurin and Daniels can keep pushing each other throughout the summer, they should be able to hit the ground running when the regular season arrives. The former third-round pick out of Ohio State knows how integral his rookie signal-caller is to the team's overall success. Keeping up his high production and lending advice when needed can only mean good things in 2024 and beyond.
Every first-year quarterback needs a strong presence in the passing game to depend upon. They needed a primary target to seek in crucial moments. Someone capable of coming through in the clutch when yards are needed.
McLaurin ticks those boxes in no uncertain terms. He remains at the peak of his powers despite all around him crumbling on Eric Bieniemy's offense last time around. If Daniels meets his end of the bargain - which looks possible based on early impressions - a career year for the pass-catcher might not be too far behind.
Daniels is the answer to McLaurin's prayers. It's integral this partnership flourishes if the Commanders want to rise from the ashes and back into contention.
