Jayden Daniels' meteoric rise
Jayden Daniels was the man tasked with becoming a franchise quarterback. The Washington Commanders had complete faith in the signal-caller before taking him at No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. His skills were obvious, but it was still a journey into the proverbial unknown for everybody.
The Commanders liked what they saw from Daniels earlier this summer. He slotted in seamlessly and won the respect of veteran teammates with his high-end work ethic. The Heisman Trophy winner picked up the playbook quickly to further inspire confidence.
Kliff Kingsbury took things cautiously over the first two games. After that, it was all systems go.
Daniels' meteoric rise to superstardom was astonishing. The LSU product found himself in the NFL MVP conversation once upon a time. He had a little dip thanks in no small part to the rib injury sustained against the Carolina Panthers. Thankfully, the Heisman Trophy winner looked more like his old self last time out versus the Tennessee Titans.
Washington has a superstar on its hands. Those in power believed this was the case following their comprehensive pre-draft assessments. Nobody thought it would happen this quickly.
Commanders have eight wins
The Commanders were an unknown quantity heading into the 2024 season. Most anticipated improvements after wholesale changes to the football operation. Nobody knew how much or how long they'd take to arrive.
Almost nobody had the Commanders sitting with eight wins at their bye week. Things came together seamlessly right out of the gate. There was an inevitable slump as bodies began to tire, but they dug deep to end the slide during a dominant triumph in Week 13 against the Tennessee Titans.
Dan Quinn's remarkable culture shift was evident on the field and in the locker room. Expectations rose exponentially ahead of time, but keeping the bigger picture in mind is essential regardless of how things go once the Commanders return from their extended rest period.
This project is ahead of schedule. Washington doesn't look ready to hang with the NFL's elite just yet. Even so, the way they're disposing of inferior opposition represents a tremendous foundation from which to build.
The future is bright. Gaining so many wins this season is just a bonus. Hopefully, it can result in a return to the playoffs when it's all said and done.