It's a big season ahead for Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders. They're looking to silence growing doubters and get back into playoff contention quickly. With the quarterback becoming extension-eligible after the 2026 campaign, there is an enormous amount at stake.
But the Commanders must also do their part.
Much has been made about whether Washington has enough around Daniels. General manager Adam Peters has cash to spend on additional moves if the right opportunities arise, but there is also contentment with the options available.
Fans want more. However, the only opinions that count are those in the building.
Matt Hasselbeck outlined concerns about Commanders' support around Jayden Daniels
Matt Hasselbeck, a three-time Pro Bowl quarterback who now works as an analyst for ESPN, has concerns. He didn't think there was enough speed across Washington's receiver room right now. Even though things don't necessarily need to be perfect for the signal-caller to excel, he thought there would be challenges under the new offensive coordinator, David Blough.
"The fear I would have at receiver, just in general, is that they just don't have the top-end speed that some teams have. The explosiveness, things like that, that the offense may lack, there's got to be some concern with that.
"Does it have to be perfect around him? No. I think he's proved that at times. But expectations have changed. I think there's a challenge here. He's incredibly gifted. There is enough around him, but it's not the help Baltimore eventually got Lamar [Jackson]."
Daniels has the ability to elevate others. However, one only has to look at how things unfolded last season to see what could happen when too much pressure to do it all is placed on his shoulders.
The former LSU standout dealt with several frustrating injuries. A knee sprain, a low-grade hamstring strain, and a dislocated elbow restricted Daniels to just seven games, four of which he completed. That'll be nowhere near good enough next time around, so having the quality needed to make things easier for Washington's franchise player is integral.
New tight end Chig Okonkwo promises to bring a different dynamic. Third-round rookie Antonio Williams also boasts high upside, but expecting miracles over his early transition is unrealistic. Aside from Terry McLaurin, there are no sure things after that, so it's not surprising to see the Commanders being linked to additional roster enhancements in the media.
Brandon Aiyuk is the hot name, but his saga with the San Francisco 49ers shows no signs of ending anytime soon. The Commanders are reportedly willing to wait, but there will come a time when Peters will need to examine other possibilities, including the potential gamble of bringing Stefon Diggs to the franchise.
It's a precarious situation. Washington's success depends on Daniels. He's ultra-talented, capable of turning any game on its head with his dual-threat dynamism and flawless poise.
But he cannot do it alone.
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