5 major observations from Jayden Daniels' performance vs. the NY Giants
By Dean Jones
After a solid if not spectacular regular-season debut from Jayden Daniels, the rookie quarterback got an opportunity to showcase his skill set in front of an expectant fanbase at Northwest Stadium. The Washington Commanders began their home slate with a divisional matchup against the New York Giants, who were coming off a home beatdown versus the Minnesota Vikings that threw up more questions about veteran signal-caller Daniel Jones' future under center.
Daniels has no such concerns. He's the future of this organization. The Commanders will go as far as the No. 2 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft takes them. He's got the tools, but overcoming a stout Giants defensive front seven was another significant challenge for the first-year pro.
There were some areas for Daniels to improve. Going through progressions and not relying solely on carrying the football would be a good place to start. As it turned out, the signal-caller came through when it counted to end Washington's nine-game losing run dating back to last season.
With this in mind, here are five major observations from Daniels' performance against the Giants in Week 2.
Major observations from Commanders QB Jayden Daniels' performance vs. NY Giants
Jayden Daniels' accuracy
Jayden Daniels got off to an incredibly accurate start to the game. He was under duress versus a formidable New York Giants defensive front, but he got the football where it needed to go and took what the defense gave him.
Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury opened things up slightly as the contest progressed. Daniels has a cannon for an arm, so the Washington Commanders would be wise to make better use of it as he becomes more comfortable in his new surroundings.
In terms of his pocket distribution, it was an encouraging outing from Damiels. He finished the day with a 79.31 percent completion success rate for 226 yards and a 99.1 passer rating.
This is a notable improvement on his regular-season debut at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It's all about gradual growth for Daniels during his rookie season. That's all the Commanders can ask from the first-year pro throughout his pivotal early transition.