Jayden Daniels hasn't been short of compliments over the last year. The quarterback's sensational final season at LSU came with a deserved Heisman Trophy. He won Best Male Collegiate Athlete at the ESPYS. His smooth transition to the Washington Commanders over early offseason workouts came with plaudits aplenty.
Daniels is riding on the crest of a wave. The Commanders are convinced this is the player to spearhead their renaissance after taking him at No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. He's shown no signs to suggest this isn't possible, although it's still early days.
A fierce inner drive and tireless work ethic are two notable features of Daniels' first few months with the Commanders. He's first into the building and is leading by example. This won over teammates and coaches quickly, which is a solid foundation from which to build.
Even though the Commanders haven't made it official, Daniels will be the starting quarterback in Week 1 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. How he performs over camp will provide a clearer insight into what he's capable of. It'll also give general manager Adam Peters a better lay of the land regarding the signal-caller's supporting cast and whether more is needed before competitive action arrives.
Jayden Daniels has lofty ambitions for the Commanders in 2024
Daniels has the talent to take the league by storm. He's also fiercely driven to reset the culture and have some fun along the way based on comments via USA Today.
"You’re guaranteed 17 games, so being able to experience how to take care of your body mentally, physically and spiritually stuff like that. Win as many games as possible and have fun while doing it. Try to shift the culture. Go out there and have fun and compete. Try to help my team win the division that’s the main goal."
- Jayden Daniels via USA Today
The Commanders have a strong support system around Daniels. Some concerns remain about the offensive line and whether the skill positions are up to the required standard, but his dual-threat credentials and ability to perform best on the brightest stages should serve him well.
Daniels knows what a significant opportunity awaits him. If he can lead one of the NFL's most historic franchises back to prominence, the benefits will be enormous.
Washington's big market is craving a contender. It's been a long time since fans had a team to be proud of. Daniels matches these ambitions and boasts the natural aura that ensures he'll be ready to cope with the challenges that lie ahead.
Winning the NFC East might be out of reach in Year 1 with Daniels leading the charge. The Commanders are in the first stages of their substantial rebuild. It will probably take time. But if the signal-caller takes off as many anticipate, it won't be much longer before Washington is back in the playoff picture.
There's a growing sense that the Commanders have something special on their hands with Daniels. He's setting himself a high bar for which to aim, but shooting for the stars hasn't exactly been synonymous with the organization over the last two decades.
Daniels is a breath of fresh air. Hopefully, his athletic gifts shine through and he becomes the franchise quarterback this team desperately needs.
