The Washington Commanders have mercifully reached their bye week after six consecutive losses, and a myriad of injuries have derailed a once-promising season.
The Commanders have had to face several uncomfortable truths in 2025. The roster Adam Peters assembled is old and slow. Their young pieces are not progressing as expected. And last season's success was a perfect storm of positive vibes with minimal adversity.
But there's another discomforting narrative that has quietly emerged for Commanders fans this season, and it may be the most contentious conversation of all.
It's time to revisit the Commanders' drafting Jayden Daniels instead of Drake Maye
While the Commanders are the NFL's most disappointing team, the New England Patriots are this year's version of Dan Quinn's squad from last year. They are the surprise toast of the league, led by a first-year head coach with a proven résumé and the sensational performance of their young star quarterback.
Drake Maye could very well win NFL MVP this season. In a year where Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow have been injured and Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen's teams are not up to their typical standard, it's up for grabs. The second-year pro has the narrative element in his favor, and Commanders fans are well aware.
Washington faced a tough decision with the No. 2 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft between Maye and Jayden Daniels, behind undisputed top selection Caleb Williams. Peters took the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner, and after his transcendent rookie campaign, any debate between the three appeared to be over.
The Commanders had the gem of the class, with everybody else fighting for second place.
Now, that looks much less certain.
Maye was in a rough spot as a rookie. Now, he has the proper structure around him to thrive. Daniels' situation, which was never great to begin with, has gotten worse, and he has suffered as a result. Multiple injuries have derailed his sophomore campaign, including an elbow dislocation he is still on the shelf from.
It's still hard to see the public opinion shift towards Maye over Daniels as anything beyond recency bias and situational factors. The North Carolina product wouldn't be playing at anywhere near his current level with Washington's banged-up receiver room. He certainly wouldn't have led the Commanders to the NFC Championship game last year.
But that won't matter in the long run. If Maye — who is 20 months younger than Daniels — ends up having more success, Washington will never hear the end of it.
The Commanders' 2024 draft class has aged with enough mixed reviews as it is, but at least the most critical pick looked like the one undisputed slam-dunk. Now, even he's being second-guessed.
There's only one way for Washington to win. Daniels needs to hit the ground running upon his return and prove last year was no fluke. That's the most pivotal element of this equation when push comes to shove.
In an age where everybody is always compared to their peers, he and Maye will be linked for their entire careers. But as long as the guy the Commanders got is also exceptional, no one should care too much about what happens in New England.