3 dream scenarios for the Washington Commanders in 2024

Jayden Daniels wins Offensive Rookie of the Year

The last time the Washington Commanders drafted a Heisman-winning quarterback, it seemed like their fortunes had changed. They were back in the playoffs and had one of the best 1-2 backfield punches in the entire league.

This time around there is one humongous difference.

The Commanders do not run a heavy-read offense. This is going to require the quarterback to have the same number of designed runs as Robert Griffin III had.

The Shanahans might be geniuses, but they did not set Griffin up for success. The Commanders cannot do the same with new rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Daniels has decent weapons. These include Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, what appears to be a fabulous trio of running backs, Luke McCaffrey, and an improved tight end room. If the supporting cast meets their targets, the LSU product should be around a lot longer than Griffin.

A lot of this will fall on the shoulders of Kliff Kingsbury to design a playbook crafted around the arm talent of Daniels. He must also allow him to express himself with his feet. If these concepts are effective, the new signal-caller can hit the ground running and become what those in power envisaged when they selected him at No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Don't be surprised if the young quarterback does just that.

Some experts have already predicted that Daniels will shoot to superstardom immediately. And though this isn't typically the best way to think, he has arguably more tools than C.J. Stroud did coming out of college. Nobody needs a reminder of what the former Ohio State star accomplished in a tremendous environment in Year 1 of his professional career.

If the coaches set him up the right way, the Commanders could have the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. In this scenario, Daniels would prove beyond all doubt he was the right pick.