NFC East rivals congregate in collective fear over Jayden Daniels' meteoric rise
By Dean Jones
Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels has taken the NFL by storm in double-quick time. The Washington Commanders believed they had a special player on their hands before the draft and during the offseason following his seamless transition. A sensational start to his first campaign in the pros means everyone else now knows it too.
Daniels is showing maturity beyond his years. His accuracy is astonishing and no moment is too big. The Heisman Trophy winner is off to a historic opening to his NFL journey and the Commanders are in good hands at long last.
The LSU product isn't getting carried away despite his hot start. Daniels knows he's still a rookie and there will be significant challenges ahead. He's also keen to keep his feet on the ground and wants the coaching staff to continue to push him through his critical transition. That's the sort of elite mindset that convinced general manager Adam Peters that he was the right guy to take this organization forward under this exciting new regime.
This stunning rise to prominence isn't going unnoticed by those around the league. People are paying close attention to Daniels' growth. Washington's rivals in the NFC East are casting concerned glances in the signal-caller's direction, worried about whether his presence can spearhead this storied franchise's renaissance in the coming years.
NFC East rivals hail Commanders QB Jayden Daniels as the real deal
Two NFC East rivals congregated in collective fear this week. Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons and Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay acknowledged that they have another threat on their hands with Daniels. They hailed him as a real deal, which is a huge compliment from a duo who've been to the very top of this profession.
This only adds to the level of intrigue around Daniels. One of the main objectives for the Commanders this season was to get the NFL looking at them differently following decades of decay on their descent to rock bottom under the previous owner. That's already been accomplished, so it's not hard to see why expectations are rising among a fanbase starving for legitimate hope.
There is a vulnerability in the NFC East that wasn't evident in recent years, which shouldn't be overlooked. The Cowboys and Eagles are sitting at 2-2 and susceptible to mistakes. The New York Giants are propping up the division with significant questions around their much-maligned quarterback Daniels Jones. Opportunity knocks for the Commanders, so keeping their foot on the gas is crucial.
Daniels accumulated a lot of starting experience in college. He's got a strong support system in place to ensure his short and long-term goals are met. Everyone knows this memorable stretch means nothing if it's not sustained in the coming weeks. There's also a chance that the promising signal-caller is going to get better with more experience.
That's the scariest proposition of all. Especially for the likes of Parsons and Slay, who face the prospect of facing the dynamic dual-threat force twice a season for the foreseeable future.