Quarterback Jayden Daniels appeared like a possible future famous person as he guided the Washington Commanders to this yr’s NFC Championship Recreation and ran away with the Offensive Rookie of the Yr Award for the 2024 season.
Daniels nevertheless understands he should “show” himself as an NFL QB1 annually. Throughout a latest chat with Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic, Daniels spoke about how reviewing recreation movie from his debut professional marketing campaign confirmed him what he wanted to work on throughout his first offseason as a full-time NFL starter.
“My important focus was on how I can enhance mechanically from Yr 1 to Yr 2,” Daniels mentioned. “…You sort of simply see your tendencies and what you suppose some individuals will attempt to use towards you going into the subsequent season.”
Some viewed Daniels and never Caleb Williams as the highest quarterback prospect within the 2024 draft earlier than the Chicago Bears took Williams with the primary decide of the player-selection course of. Washington fortunately grabbed Daniels at No. 2, and he was higher than marketed as he helped the membership win 12 of 17 regular-season video games.
Per Pro Football Reference,
Daniels completed his rookie season ranked fourth within the league amongst certified quarterbacks with a 70.6 adjusted QBR. In response to StatMuse, he was seventh within the NFL with 4,459 mixed passing and dashing yards, and he was ninth with 31 mixed passing and dashing touchdowns.
“I believe that’s all the time going to be the largest piece, is fine-tuning the footwork,” Daniels informed Jhabvala. “And clearly, one other yr within the system, I used to be extra snug, so I may tie in numerous footwork with completely different ideas that I believe [offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury] would name simply working that every one offseason. …Simply one other yr of understanding my physique and understanding the way to get sure throws off of various drops or completely different actions and the way to nonetheless get the precise throw if I’m throwing clear, if I’ve to maneuver proper or transfer left, and stuff like that on the run.”
For an article posted in July, league executives, coaches and scouts surveyed by ESPN ranked Daniels because the NFL’s fifth-best quarterback for 2025. As of Monday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had Daniels fifth among the many betting favorites at +750 odds to say the Most Helpful Participant Award for the upcoming season.
The 24-year-old seemingly is doing his greatest to disregard such info as he works to develop into a extra full quarterback.
“Extra correct, can throw farther for certain,” Daniels added throughout his feedback. “After which the speed. So if I have to let one rip…so defenders aren’t in a position to decide the ball off due to how briskly the ball is touring. All of it ties into that for certain.”
Daniels will get a chance to point out how he is grown when the Commanders open the 2025 season with a house recreation towards the New York Giants on Sept. 7. On Monday, DraftKings Sportsbook had Washington as a 6.5-point favourite for that matchup.
