5 sustainable positives from Commanders' sensational 4-1 start in 2024

Jayden Daniels' progress

Jayden Daniels might be playing like a seasoned veteran to start his NFL career, but he's still a rookie. The quarterback acknowledged as much amid the constant adulation coming his way. He wants to be better and for the coaching staff to keep pushing him toward greatness this season and beyond.

The Washington Commanders cannot be anything other than thrilled with the immediate return on their investment. Those in power turned down a king's ransom to stay at No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft and take Daniels. They believed he had the franchise-altering traits capable of waking this sleeping giant. It's still early, but the signs are immensely positive.

Daniels' progress should be sustainable. He's already a nightmare for opposing defenses to counteract, but he's also leaving plenty of plays out on the field. Once he starts going through his progressions more effectively and choosing the right read, he's only going to improve.

The Commanders have a strong support system around Daniels. Kliff Kingsbury, Tavita Pritchard, Brian Johnson, and David Blough are steering him on the right path. His exceptional work ethic is working in his favor - something that can continue long into the future if he gets a clear run of luck on the health front.

Commanders are learning how to win again

This might sound strange considering the wholesale changes made across the Commanders, but learning how to win is something this new-look operation is doing together. It's been a long time since Washington won consistently. For those who were around under previous regimes, it's taken some getting used to.

Mediocrity was accepted as the norm, especially during the final years of Ron Rivera's head coaching tenure. Treading water was preferred to anything more ambitious. This came with a demoralized locker room and players simply going through the motions. That was not going to fly under the experienced presence of head coach Dan Quinn.

Winning breeds confidence. Winning changes the atmosphere in practice and in the locker room. These examples were few and far between over recent years, so relishing every moment while also keeping the long-term objectives at the forefront of their minds is having a positive impact on this squad.

The Commanders know more than most that winning is hard in the NFL. Their Week 5 triumph against the Cleveland Browns wasn't perfect, but they found a way to get the job done with minimal fuss. They're learning how to come through tough challenges and attain success. That's arguably the biggest positive above all else through the first five weeks of the campaign.

More Commanders news and analysis