Dan Quinn is trying to protect Jayden Daniels, and rightfully so.
Jayden Daniels has been the talk of the entire NFL following his sensational performance at the Cincinnati Bengals. The No. 2 overall selection surged into instant superstardom after an almost flawless performance with the national spotlight glaring on Monday Night Football. He formally announced his professional arrival, and the league is officially on notice.
Daniels looks like the franchise quarterback the Commanders have been seeking for years. His calmness, ability to excite, and nerves of steel in the clutch have been nothing short of a revelation so far.
The Heisman Trophy winner has the full belief of fans, players, and coaches alike. There was plenty of debate about which direction those in power should take once Caleb Williams went to the Chicago Bears at No. 1 overall. It seems for all the smart money as if Washington made the right call.
There is a long way to go and a lot of football left before Daniels is officially anointed as the King of D.C. It's hard to keep everyone level-headed after so much misery under previous decision-makers. That's exactly what head coach Dan Quinn is trying to do amid increasing adulation surrounding the Cajon High School product.
Dan Quinn doesn't want Jayden Daniels burdened by Commanders' previous errors
Quinn understands that Washington's long-suffering fanbase has endured significant hardship before his arrival. He also knows how the franchise went through a revolving door at the quarterback spot before Daniels came into the equation. What the man in charge doesn't want is his signal-caller taking on additional pressure thanks to the failings of others.
"I definitely understand our fanbase has been waiting for the franchise QB, but I also don't want Jayden feeling any ghosts. Making sure he understands there's only one name on the back of that jersey, and that's for him. He's a really cool customer and he's got real poise about him. It was good to see the next step of him of when to take the shot and when not to. So, I did learn a lot more…he's listening too and knowing the importance of that."
- Dan Quinn via Commanders.com
Preaching patience is the right thing to do. It's easy to get carried away with Daniels' monumental start. He's galvanized one of the league's most historic franchises in the blink of an eye. Quinn's job is to keep everybody's feet on the ground and maintain focus on the bigger objectives.
Daniels is experienced enough at the college level to stay on an even keel. He's got far greater ambitions than simply getting praise after three games before tailing off. The former LSU phenom is aiming for greatness and to become one of the league's best players. Not just at the quarterback position, but across the board.
It's been a magnificent start, there's no getting away from that. Daniels carried himself like a star from the moment he joined the Commanders and continued this trend when competitive action arrived. That's why Quinn is spot on with his assessment - making sure he's doing the right thing without the weight of failed acquisitions under previous regimes will only lead to better days ahead.
There will be tough times. There will be moments when Daniels struggles and needs the help of others. Fortunately for the first-year pro, the Commanders are providing the player with an outstanding support system to keep him on a desired path.
That's arguably more impressive than Daniels' outstanding opening to the campaign.
