Nothing much went right for the Washington Commanders last season. Improvements have been made throughout the offseason, but this team will rise or fall with quarterback Jayden Daniels.
And one Washington veteran put the NFL on notice with a bold projection for Daniels entering Year 3 of his professional career.
Daniels couldn't stay on the field last season. The signal-caller participated in just seven games and completed only four. Knee, hamstring, and elbow issues damaged any momentum the Commanders may have had, though things weren't exactly going well even before that.
Deatrich Wise Jr. believes Commanders QB Jayden Daniels is about to put the league on notice
Deatrich Wise Jr. believes the tide is about to turn. During a conversation with Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network, the veteran defensive lineman outlined how hungry everyone is to right this wrong. And in Daniels, he sees a player ready to remind the world why he was in the elite conversation as a rookie.
"Really, everybody's hungry. Everybody's hungry. Everybody's ready to go, and our leader, Jayden Daniels, is doing his thing as well. He's phenomenal. He has that look in his eyes that he's ready to take over the league."
Talk is cheap, of course. Daniels has never been the brashest quarterback, preferring to let his football do the talking. He didn't get much of a chance to do that last season, but it's seemingly all systems go this time around.
Daniels has revenge and redemption on his mind. He's heard all the critics about his durability and whether he can provide longevity to the Commanders. He'll be striving with everything he has to silence the doubters, and Wise is already starting to see a difference.
This will be a gradual process over the summer. Daniels has new teammates to develop chemistry with. He's also got a new playbook to pick up under offensive coordinator David Blough, which will be more in keeping with pro-style concepts and should maximize the signal-caller's strengths if everyone gets on the same page.
It's a lot, especially given the stakes. But if anyone is capable of overcoming adversity and getting back on the right track, it's Daniels.
With Daniels also becoming extension-eligible after the season, there are significant financial implications attached to the former LSU star bouncing back. But in all honesty, that will be the last thing on his mind.
He's a football-first guy who always puts the team above himself. That's unlikely to change, and everything on the business side will take care of itself after that.
Daniels is motivated. The Commanders are hungry. And Wise thinks something special might be brewing.
Let's hope he's right.
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