Jayden Daniels isn't a rookie anymore, not like he ever looked like one during a campaign that will long be in the memory of every Washington Commanders fan.
And one big challenge set by the coaching staff this offseason could be the spark that ignites him to even greater fortunes moving forward.
There wasn't much that Daniels didn't achieve last season. He was the runaway winner of the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. He made the Pro Bowl. He entered the elite category and emerged as one of the league's most prolific closers. And he's only just getting started.
Just how much better Daniels can get remains to be seen. But the Commanders are tasking him with more from a leadership standpoint as they look to capitalize on schematic stability and the same support system being in place for the No. 2 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Commanders challenging Jayden Daniels to evolve as a leader, and he's answering the call
Albert Breer from Sports Illustrated lifted the lid on this dynamic. The senior insider stated that Daniels had everything else down, so the coaching staff wanted the dynamic signal-caller to start leading from the front. It's received a positive response, something that allowed the second-year pro to pick up where he left off this offseason.
"The byproduct of that process, as spring began, was giving Daniels added command with his teammates, since he’d already mastered what had been taught, which naturally allowed him to take another step forward from a leadership standpoint. Furthering that was the team’s ability to hang on to Kingsbury, pass-game coordinator Brian Johnson and QBs coach Tavita Pritchard, as well as backup Marcus Mariota, making it easy for the entire quarterbacks room to hit the ground running when the offseason program started in April and OTAs began in May."Albert Breer
Daniels is normally moving with a quiet aura that players gravitate towards quickly. He lets his actions on the field do the talking, which stems from elite-level composure and an exceptional work ethic that won the respect of his teammates almost from the moment he got into the building.
Nobody is doubting Daniels now. Everyone is willingly following his lead, and it's a responsibility he's taking seriously. The fact he's being challenged by Washington's coaching is a testament to their unrivaled faith in the Heisman Trophy winner out of LSU.
If Daniels can evolve as a leader and enhance his outstanding start to life in Washington, there will be many more special memories to come.