Are other teams surprised Commanders QB Jayden Daniels already looks legit?

As rookie and some second-year quarterbacks continue to struggle during games, Washington Commanders' first-year signal-caller Jayden Daniels already looks like the real deal who could be capable of guiding his club to the postseason, similar to how C.J. Stroud helped the Houston Texans become a playoff team last season. 

For a piece updated on Tuesday, NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated explained how certain clubs learned during the summer that Daniels could succeed as a Week 1 starter.

"Talking to people from the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins, teams that practiced against the Washington Commanders in training camp, it was very clear that Daniels made an impression on everyone who got to see him play this summer," Breer said. "They saw his poise and comfort level, and how smooth he looked." 

Future Hall of Famer Tom Brady and current New York Jets starter Aaron Rodgers are among noteworthy members of the NFL community who have warned over the past couple of months that clubs shouldn't play rookie quarterbacks who "are not NFL-ready just yet." While it's still early days into his debut pro season, Daniels doesn't fit such a description. 

According to Pro Football Reference, Daniels entered Wednesday leading the NFL among qualified players with an 80.3% completion percentage. He's ranked seventh in the league with a 67.9 adjusted QBR and third with a 51.8% passing success rate, and he matched two touchdown passes with no interceptions over Washington's first three games. Additionally, StatMuse stats show Daniels leads the league among quarterbacks with three rushing touchdowns and is second among QBs with 171 yards gained on the ground. 

"Daniels was a multi-year starter for two major college programs in two power conferences," Breer added about the 23-year-old who previously played for the Arizona State Sun Devils and LSU Tigers. "So he got to see a lot, run a lot of things and play against a lot of defenses to build up the library of football knowhow in his head. Bottom line: He looks thoroughly prepared because he is."

Before the Chicago Bears made quarterback Caleb Williams the first pick of this year's draft in April, some scouts, analysts and coaches said that the Bears should take Daniels over Williams. Those running the Bears were unmoved by such takes but may ultimately regret their decision if Daniels becomes a superstar as soon as his second or third season in the league.