Jayden Daniels’ first year in pro football was so good that ESPN analyst Tedy Bruschi claimed it was the best debut season of any NFL player he had ever seen. Daniels won the Offensive Rookie of the Year by a landslide and gave Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson a run for their money in the league MVP race.
Daniels nearly completed 70% of his attempted passes, 31 overall touchdowns, and only six picks, en route to leading the Washington Commanders to their first NFC Championship game since the early 1990s. Fans of the Commanders are gearing up for another exciting campaign, but at the same time, fear is brewing around the league. Did Jayden Daniels peak too early?
Former NFL MVP Cam Newton is part of the bandwagon that isn’t ready to pat Daniels’ back just yet because he has seen the same movie before. In a recent discussion with DC-based rap artist Wale, Newton recalled seeing Robert Griffin III’s incredible rookie season. Many viewed RG3 as the savior to drag the Commanders out of purgatory.
However, fans witnessed RG’s tragic fall from grace in the following seasons. A devastating injury derailed his career completely. Newton fears that history might repeat itself.
Seeing a lot of success as a rookie [Jayden Daniels] season … I’m a say it in this way. There is nobody who had the game in a chokehold like Robert Griffin III… But RG3, I have to tip my cap to him. And so, I see that same thing happening for Jayden.
Cam Newton announced on the set of Funky Friday
Cam Newton discusses with Wale of the possibility of Jayden Daniels being a “one-hit wonder” and similarities between him & RG3
— brandon (@JayDanielsMVP) July 5, 2025
Some viewers believe Cam is jealous and hating on Jayden.
Thoughts?
(:@FunkyFriday) pic.twitter.com/saDg61Smpi
RG3 recorded a 102.4 passer rating, 4000 all-purpose yards, and 27 touchdowns, leading the Commanders/Redskins to a 9-6 finish. It was the first and only time RG qualified for the playoffs as the starting quarterback in his career.
Wale, a dedicated Washington supporter, recognized the deep-seated fear and disappointment that have long affected the fan base. While the ‘Bag of Money’ singer wishes only the best for Daniels, he also acknowledges the chance that the LSU graduate could become a one-hit wonder.
We’ve got PTSD of not winning for so long, so we don’t even know how to have good things. Like, ‘Damn, okay, when is the honeymoon over?’ It’s easy to think like that.
Wale quipped
Wale’s assessment is genuine because the NFL has seen a fair share of one-and-done players in its long history. However, former NFL wide receiver Dez Bryant has unwavering faith in Daniels. Bryant may not be a fan of the league’s pride agenda, but he is definitely on board the JD bandwagon.
Jayden Daniels is here to stay. Nothing about how he plays the game of football shows he’s a one-hit wonder. Out of all athletic dual-threat QBs who have played the game, Jayden Daniels reads the defense the best… He doesn’t rely on his athletic ability, and that’s what makes him dangerous.
Dez Bryant tweeted in support of Daniels
Jayden Daniels is here to stay. Nothing about how he plays the game of football shows he's a one hit wonder. Out of all athletic dual threat QBs who have played the game, Jayden Daniels reads the defense the best…He doesn't rely on his athletic ability, and that's what makes him… https://t.co/KFgDciyFPd
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) July 5, 2025
CJ Stroud’s sophomore regression gave NFL teams a wake-up call. However, NFL Hall of Famer Peyton Manning advised fans to be patient with young players and give them time to develop.
NBA superstar and future HOF, Kevin Durant, backed Daniels to continue dominating the NFC and challenge the Eagles, Lions, and 49ers for the Super Bowl.
The Commanders have a fairly difficult 2025 schedule. After playing three preseason games against the Patriots, Bengals, and Ravens, they will kick off the new campaign against the New York Giants in landover.
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