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NFL Legend Has High Praise For Commanders’ Jayden Daniels

Originally posted on NFL Analysis Network
By Matthew Schmidt | Last updated 5/13/24

There were six quarterbacks taken in the first round of the NFL Draft late last month, but Washington Commanders pick Jayden Daniels may be the most polished of them all.

The Commanders took Daniels with the No. 2 overall selection, and while Caleb Williams went No. 1 to the Chicago Bears, some feel that Daniels may end up being the best of the bunch.

Take Detroit Lions legend Calvin Johnson, for example.

The former superstar wide receiver made a recent appearance on ESPN’s Unsportsmanlike Radio and told former NFL defensive lineman Chris Canty that he has zeroed in on Daniels.

“Obviously Caleb is out there, but Jayden,” Johnson said when asked which rookie signal-caller he is most looking forward to watching. “… I look forward to seeing how Jayden comes out, and I’ve also had the fortune of meeting the kid and talking to him for a short bit, so folks that I come in contact with on the professional realm tend to be fans of him.”

Megatron is locked-in on Jayden Daniels pic.twitter.com/ANFdnYa877
— UNSPORTSMANLIKE Radio (@UnSportsESPN) May 12, 2024

Daniels is coming off of a brilliant 2023 campaign at LSU in which he threw for 3,812 yards, 40 touchdowns and four interceptions while completing 72.2 percent of his passes. He also racked up 1,134 yards and 10 scores on the ground, averaging a fantastic 8.4 yards per carry. He won the Heisman Trophy for his efforts.

The 23-year-old actually began his collegiate career at Arizona State and spent three years there before transferring to LSU in 2022.

Daniels showed some promise in his first season with the Tigers, totaling 2,913 yards, 17 touchdowns and three picks while completing 68.6 percent of his throws. Additionally, he registered 885 yards yards while reaching the end zone 11 times a rusher.

However, the San Bernadino, Ca. native did not truly break out until this past season, when he established himself as one of the best NFL prospects in the country.

Washington has been starving for a franchise quarterback for decades. The closest the team came was probably Kirk Cousins, who took over as the starter for Robert Griffin III in 2014 but ultimately ended up signing with the Minnesota Vikings in March 2018.

The Commanders have made just five playoff appearances since 1993 and have not won a postseason game since January 2006.

Perhaps Jayden Daniels will change the culture in the nation’s capital.

This article first appeared on NFL Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

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