The Washington Commanders have been seeking their franchise QB for decades.
The Commanders have almost completely overhauled the roster since new general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn took over. This duo will help new owner Josh Harris revitalize a fan base that was broken by the former owner, Dan Snyder, and turn Washington into a winning franchise yet again.
On Thursday, they took the first significant step by selecting LSU QB and last year’s Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels as the team’s new franchise signal caller.
Daniels brings a unique dual-threat skillset and can make all the NFL throws with accuracy and poise, but also pick up major gains with his feet when a play breaks down or with a designed run.
While there is still work to to in the NFL Draft, Daniels should enter a situation that will set him up for success.
At running back, the team seems in good shape with Brian Robinson Jr. as the bruising every down back and the addition of Austin Ekler to serve as a change of pace option who can also serve as a reliable receiver for the young QB that comes to DC.
The Washington Commanders will likely draft a young tight end to learn behind Zach Ertz — who the team brought in due to his familiarity with new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. Peters has made a few moves to bolster one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL in 2023, but Washington will still use the draft to fill voids up front, particularly at tackle.
Last season, Washington’s WR group looked solid on paper. The trio of Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel and Jahan Dotson felt like it could be a nightmare for opposing defenses, but former OC Eric Bieniemy struggled to scheme ways to get the ball to McLaurin on a regular basis. The former Ohio State wideout is considered a top 10 NFL WR and has thrived in Washington despite inconsistency at the QB position.
Samuel is now gone to Buffalo and the Commanders should add another starting-caliber wideout through the draft or in free agency, but Daniels already has weapons on offense.
What Are The Washington Commanders Getting In Jayden Daniels?
According to some reports, Daniels was ranked ahead of Caleb Williams and viewed as the top QB of the 2024 class according to some NFL general managers.
Here’s his scouting report:
Daniels is one of the most dynamic and experienced playmakers in the 2024 NFL Draft class. The five-year starter was productive at Arizona State before breaking out at LSU and putting together a dominant super-senior season with the Tigers.
Daniels is a true dual-threat quarterback, possessing elite-level scrambling skills that will instantly place him among the NFL’s best running quarterbacks. He has great speed and good field vision, allowing him to find running lanes when plays break down or his receivers are well-covered.
That said, Daniels isn’t afraid to hang in the pocket and find open receivers when the opportunity presents itself. He has a strong pocket presence and great accuracy to the short-to-intermediate parts of the field, which played a role in his high-end turnover avoidance throughout his college career (89 touchdowns to 20 interceptions across five seasons).
While those traits should have Washington Commanders fans thrilled about the future, Daniels does have some areas of concern.
Daniels has some drawbacks. Notably, while he has an NFL-caliber arm, he doesn’t have great arm strength. It may take him some time to improve as a deep-ball passer. Additionally, Daniels didn’t protect himself well as a runner during his college days. He took a lot of big hits, so he will need to work on sliding and going out of bounds when appropriate to protect his slender frame. He measured 6-4, 210 pounds at the NFL Combine, but many believe his playing weight at LSU was lighter.
Still, Daniels has the combination of accuracy, mobility, and poise needed to be a solid NFL starter. That fueled his rise up draft boards during his senior season, and it’s why he is viewed as a lock to be a top-three pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
It’s clear if the Washington Commanders protect Daniels and cater an offense that aligns with his strengths, he could become the franchise passer this team has longed for.