Jayden Daniels has taken the NFL by storm during a phenomenal rookie campaign so far. The Washington Commanders look like they have a genuine superstar on their hands, something that became evident during the offseason and continued when competitive action commenced in 2024.
Daniels has the poise, precision, and ability to electrify a fanbase starved of legitimate success. The signal-caller's on-field production is one thing, but the way he's galvanized the locker room and won the coaches' respect through an elite-level mentality leaves no doubt he's the franchise quarterback Washington's been looking for.
However, that's not an opinion shared by everybody.
Insider doesn't think Commanders are convinced by Jayden Daniels
When discussing Daniels' potential availability in Week 8 against the Chicago Bears, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network threw in a mind-boggling claim regarding Daniels. The insider doesn't believe the franchise knows if the former LSU star is the answer. He also stated that because Marcus Mariota performed so well in Week 7 versus the Carolina Panthers, Dan Quinn and his staff can take their time.
"The fact that, as a rookie quarterback, I know it's crazy because he's played so well, but he still is a rookie. The other part of this is when Marcus Mariota was out there, he was really good. That was probably as well as Marcus Mariota has played in quite a while. And I don't believe this is an organization that knows Jayden Daniels is their franchise quarterback. I don't believe this is an organization that's going to rush him anyway, but the fact you have a backup that played so well, further emphasizes caution and the long-term view."Ian Rapoport via X
The Insiders on @NFLNetwork with @TomPelissero: In-depth with two QB situations, focusing on Tua Tagovailoa and Jayden Daniels. pic.twitter.com/e8z92Fhyh0
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 24, 2024
What?
The Commanders did a thorough evaluation of Daniels before taking him at No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. His exceptional integration throughout off-season workouts and training camp was pleasing. He won the belief of teammates and fans through an outstanding work ethic and willingness to go above and beyond to prepare effectively.
Daniels was off to a historic start to his first NFL season before his rib injury on Washington's opening drive against the Panthers. He proved his worth as a runner, as an accurate passer, and with an ability to come through in clutch situations. Quinn, offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, and everyone in between lavished praise on the signal-caller, who remained on an even keel despite his meteoric rise to stardom.
After all this, and the promise of Daniels getting even better with more experience, Rapoport still believes that those in the building aren't entirely convinced that the Heisman Trophy winner cannot lead this organization back to prominence.
Unbelievable.
Mariota did play well. He kept the wheels turning after some early jitters. It's also worth remembering that this was versus the Panthers. They are the league's worst defense currently giving up points at a record-breaking rate through seven weeks. Rapoport didn't add that context, preferring to make his extremely bold claim about Daniels that raised more than a few eyebrows among the fanbase on social media.
This is so far off the mark it's hard to fathom why it came out of Rapoport's mouth in the first place. Daniels had his skeptics before the draft. But after a wonderful start and the composure needed to take nothing for granted, everyone is firmly behind him.