Commanders must find the right risk-reward balance with Jayden Daniels

Jayden Daniels has electrifying traits that cannot be taught. The Washington Commanders are counting on them to spearhead their exciting new era and lead this storied organization back into contention.

Daniels made an incredible impression almost immediately after the Commanders took him at No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. His natural charisma, tireless work ethic, and outstanding on-field production were a revelation. It won the respect of teammates, drew praise from coaches, and left fans dreaming of what this franchise can accomplish with the Heisman Trophy winner under center.

There is one concern surrounding Daniels. He's an outstanding runner with the football. He also takes a significant amount of big hits that could prove complicated versus NFL-caliber defenders who'll be looking to wipe out the signal-caller any chance they get.

Commanders cannot plan scared with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels

The former LSU star admitted after failing to get down effectively following a run against the Miami Dolphins that he doesn't practice sliding all that much. Daniels feels like he's still learning and that part of his game will come. He's also keen to maximize this unique part of his game to Washington's advantage no matter how much stress it places on head coach Dan Quinn based on comments via John Keim of ESPN.

"It's a constant battle between me and him [Dan Quinn]. It's a fine line, knowing when to take your chances and get down. (On the 13-yard run), I didn't think a lot of people were behind me. After I got tackled, he was on the sideline like, 'Get down, get down!' That's our little joke we have going on. I'm still learning. God blessed me with a gift, I don't want to take that away. I'm very competitive, so I want to make explosive plays and score a lot of touchdowns."

- John Keim, ESPN

This is about finding the right balance between risk and reward. It would be prudent for Daniels to practice sliding, but his college tape shows he's capable of this in addition to making quick side steps out of bounds when bit hits are incoming.

He can take punishment. That's part of the game. Daniels added some muscle mass to cope with the extra rigors that come with the NFL in readiness for his rookie campaign. But there needs to be a level of trust attached to avoid restricting the player too much.

Quinn and Kliff Kingsbury will have a few heart-stopping moments when Daniels gets out on the move. He's not going to get himself out of harm's way all the time. However, removing this element from his game entirely is simply not an option.

Opposing defenses have to think differently because of Daniels' dual-threat ability. Taking this away makes his production one-dimensional, as great as he is in the pocket.

At the same time, the Commanders can only do so much to protect their prized possession. Daniels' improvisation and thinking on the fly are all part of his aura. It's something those on the field - especially the offensive linemen - must react to quickly.

Players can get hurt all the time. It doesn't just have to be quarterbacks, it goes for anybody. Daniels gets the attention because he plays football's most important position and he's the Commanders' biggest draft investment under center since Robert Griffin III. But in all honesty, this is just about being fundamentally sound and recognizing danger before it arrives.

If Daniels figures this out when the pace gets quicker and the margins get finer, everything should be fine.

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