Grading Jayden Daniels' performance in year one as Commanders quarterback

Jayden Daniels had a rookie campaign for the ages.

Jayden Daniels
Jayden Daniels | Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

The discussions over where Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels’ rookie season ranks amongst the all-time greats have been going on for several months.

It has moved on from “Is this the greatest rookie season for a quarterback?’ to “Is this the greatest rookie season ever, regardless of position?”

We’ll get to the data supporting such claims shortly. But to understand just how good Daniels was in 2024, it might be helpful to look at the two receivers he threw to the most — Terry McLaurin and Dyami Brown.

They have spent their entire careers in Washington. McLaurin has been a consistent plus-receiver, and Brown has been a disappointment. Both had the best years of their respective careers catching passes from Daniels.

McLaurin had career highs in first downs and catch success percentage, dwarfing his previous high in touchdowns. He saw a slight decrease in targets but was arguably far more effective than ever. The former third-round pick out of Ohio State was rewarded with his first second-team All-Pro selection.

The uptick in Brown’s play may have been even more impressive. Entering the season, he was largely forgotten. Once Noah Brown was lost to injury at mid-season, he began to come on.

Brown established career highs in catches, yards, and first downs. His catch percentage, which had never been higher than 52, shot up to 75. The North Carolina product emerged as a reliable receiver and McLaurin became a star.

That was just part of Daniels’ impact.

Rookie sensation Jayden Daniels uplifted the Commanders immediately

There have been other great seasons turned in by rookie quarterbacks. To debate whether Daniels’ was the best misses the bigger picture.

In terms of raw numbers, he holds his own against Cam Newton, Dak Prescott, Russell Wilson, C.J. Stroud, and Washington’s own Robert Griffin III. He ran for more yards than any of them and boasted a higher Pro Football Focus AV score — a figure along the lines of baseball’s WAR.

Wilson is the only rookie with a higher QBR. Prescott, Griffin, and Stroud are the only ones with a better traditional rating.

All that simply means is Daniels’ 2024 campaign is right there with the best rookie quarterback performances of all time.

That showed up most significantly in the standings, where he led a stunning turnaround. The Commanders went from 4-13 in 2023 to 12-5 this season. They won two playoff games before bowing out at the NFC Championship stage, one triumph from the Super Bowl.

Daniels gave the Commanders a legitimate elite presence at the most important position on the field. He was above average in almost every statistical category and the top 10 in most. The Heisman Trophy winner was second only to Lamar Jackson in quarterback rushing yards and second behind Jalen Hurts in rushing first downs among signal-callers.

First downs converted is the real secret to Daniels’ extraordinary success as a rookie. His 55 rushing first downs are the most I am aware of in NFL history. It narrowly beats out Newton, who played fewer games.

Daniels' ability to convert first downs either with his arm or his legs made the Commanders' offense unstoppable at times. They went several games early in the season without punting. It was supremely efficient and set the tone.

Watching Daniels run throughout the campaign revealed another special aspect of his production. He is a very smart quarterback. He quickly developed a reputation as a humble leader who spent countless hours preparing for each week’s game. And he evolved throughout the season.

Early on, Daniels would take unnecessary risks when running. As the season progressed, he began using the sideline much more effectively. The former LSU star stepped out of bounds frequently instead of struggling for an extra yard or two.

But — and this is crucial — when the game was on the line, Daniels did not run out of bounds. When there was a crucial third or fourth down to convert, he used his speed, elusiveness, and surprising toughness to fight for those yards. He was almost always successful.

Add to that the almost superhuman poise he displayed as a rookie — laughing and smiling as the pressure increased, never getting rattled, making his biggest plays when the game was on the line — and Daniels truly was a complete package.

What should be scary for the rest of the league is that there is still room for growth. Daniels is very accurate, but he went through stretches where he missed throws. He also occasionally missed seeing open receivers.

Those issues are going to work themselves out in short order. Daniels will get better at pre-snap reads and make quicker decisions with the ball as he gains experience. He is already doing this at a surprisingly high level. And he is going to get better.

Grade

Given that he does have room for growth, I’m tempted to give Daniels an A for his rookie season — saving the A+ for down the road. But that feels overly stingy.

Daniels restored hope to a city that was desperate for a lift. He gets an A+.

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