The Washington Commanders have put last season behind them. One year after winning 12 games and getting within one game of the Super Bowl, the Commanders underwent a huge regression, doing a total 180, finishing 5-12, and reverting to the days of old.
However, the front office deserves a lot of credit for the work that's been done this offseason. General Manager Adam Peters infused this roster with a ton of legitimate talent in the free agency market, notably on defense.
But much of the success will hinge on whether this group can stay healthy, and that includes Jayden Daniels, the team's young superstar who only played in seven games last year due to injury. If returning full force from injury wasn't enough motivation, this recent ranking is sure to give Daniels as much motivation as he'll ever need.
Commanders' Jayden Daniels ranked 3rd among QBs on rookie deals for 2026
For NFL.com, Around The NFL Writer Nick Shook ranked Jayden Daniels third among quarterbacks who are still on their rookie deals for 2026:
"The 2025 season felt like a complete wash for Daniels. The 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year couldn't stay on the field long enough to find a rhythm, with the QB's knee, hamstring and elbow injuries subverting the Commanders' hopes of repeating the stunning success they enjoyed a year prior and leaving open a host of questions regarding their outlook entering 2026. I still hold a firm belief that Daniels is one of the most dynamic, thrilling quarterbacks in the NFL when healthy, and that he is fully capable of carrying this offense for as long as he can remain available. That's why he's ranked third -- and I hope, for Washington's sake, that this slot looks prescient a year from now."
Daniels comes into this ranking behind Caleb Williams at the second spot, and Drake Maye, who sits in first. He notably comes in ahead of Bo Nix and CJ Stroud, who sit at fourth and fifth, respectively. While it's reasonable to think that Daniels should be ranked behind Maye, who might be on the cusp of superstardom, being ranked behind Williams could be a step too far.
And it's almost like some of us have forgotten just how dominant Daniels was in 2024. He's already carried his team deeper into the playoffs than Williams has, and he's obviously a more dynamic player. Still boasting a 14-10 record as a starter, Daniels' record is noticeably stronger than Williams', who is just 16-18 in 34 regular season starts.
Not only that, but Daniels' completion percentage is over six points higher than Williams', and he's got 292 more rushing yards and five more rushing scores despite playing in 10 fewer games. Daniels has been a more productive player, more of a winner, and has been further in the playoffs than Williams.
Sure, availability is absolutely the 'best' ability, but that doesn't mean Daniels is less of a quarterback. He did start in all 20 games for the Commanders, including the playoffs, during his rookie season, so there's reason to believe that what we saw in 2025 was simply an outlier.
It might seem like a long ways away from 2024, but in reality, this team, given the talent the front office added this offseason, could suddenly be a lot closer to replicating that 2024 season than 2025.
Daniels also has all the motivation in the world to play at his best, as he could not only re-establish himself as a top quarterback in the NFC, but he'll also be up for a contract extension next offseason.
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