A year ago, there was no stopping the Jayden Daniels hype. The Washington Commanders quarterback was fresh off a trip to the NFC Championship game and had already established himself as a top-10 passer in the league. But it doesn't take long for opinions to change in the NFL.
After an injury-riddled sophomore season, Daniels has fallen out of favor in league circles. The Athletic recently released a ranking of 35 NFL quarterbacks, as voted on by coaches and front-office executives. Daniels came in at No. 13, falling seven spots from his top-10 ranking last year.
One anonymous defensive coach said, "“He’s got to reprove it."
When he does, these rankings will quickly start to look silly.
Commanders QB Jayden Daniels is ready to reintroduce himself to the NFL
Daniels wasn't just impressive as a rookie; he was league-breaking. The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner ranked in the top 10 in most major stats, including completion percentage, EPA per play, and quarterback rating.
His dual-threat ability, accuracy, and quick processing skills put defenses in knots. The No. 2 pick looked like the clear-cut leader of the 2024 quarterback class.
It didn't take long for the NFL to forget. Daniels battled injuries throughout his second season, playing in just seven games. He never reached the heights of his rookie year.
Meanwhile, the other top quarterbacks from the 2024 class enjoyed breakout campaigns. Drake Maye (8th) and Caleb Williams (11th) both shot past Daniels in The Athletic's rankings.
Heading into his third season, Daniels is ready to remind the league of the dominance he put on display in 2024.
One anonymous executive believes it's possible, saying, "They spent a lot of money on that offensive line and drafted some guys, so I think he has to just settle into that position. He has all the talent.”
The Commanders' offense is still limited in terms of receiving weapons, but the offensive line is built to be a true strength. Daniels should have everything he needs for a bounce-back season under offensive coordinator David Blough, whose diverse system will give the QB more answers than Kliff Kingsbury's static scheme did.
The hype produced by Daniels' rookie season may have gotten out of hand, but public opinion has swayed too far in the other direction. His first season shouldn't be thrown out the window after an injury-plagued 2025 campaign. The third-year quarterback is set to reinstate himself among the NFL's elite passers.
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