Commanders news: Jayden Daniels, Adam Peters, Jordan Magee and Chigozie Anusiem

Commanders QB Jayden Daniels' hopes

Jayden Daniels is gearing up for his first on-field activity as an NFL professional. The quarterback will be looking to set an immediate tone throughout the Washington Commanders' upcoming rookie minicamp, which is the first step on what will hopefully become a profitable preparation period for the No. 2 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The Heisman Trophy winner out of LSU has high expectations on his young shoulders. That was guaranteed from the moment Washington made him the No. 2 pick, so hitting the ground running is going to be crucial en route to potentially starting in Week 1.

When speaking with Keyshawn Johnson on the All Facts No Brakes podcast, transcribed by Kevin Patra from Around the NFL, Daniels admitted he hasn't been told either way regarding the possibility of him starting right out of the gate. The Commanders are going to take things gradually and install their prized possession as the No. 1 when the time is right.

"Do I anticipate (starting Week 1)? I mean, I'm confident in my abilities, but that's a decision that they've got to make. That's above me. From what I heard, they said whenever I'm ready, I'm ready. So whenever I feel like I'm ready, I'm ready. They didn't tell me, 'Oh, you've got to start Week 1.' They just said, 'Whenever you're ready, you're ready. Whenever you feel ready, we feel you're ready, we're gonna throw you out there.'"

While this is a nice thought, rookie quarterbacks taken so high rarely get the chance to sit and learn from the sidelines these days. We live in an instant gratification world where fans want an immediate return on the team's investment. Daniels is also seen as arguably the most pro-ready signal-caller emerging from the college ranks this year, so something must go wrong for Marcus Mariota to see the field at any stage in 2024.

Daniels has all the tools imaginable to become an NFL star. He can't do it alone, but this could be a match made in heaven when it's all said and done.