Commanders Buy Major Insurance Amid Jayden Daniels 'Slump' Fears

The Washington Commanders made an extraordinary leap in Year 1 with Jayden Daniels, advancing further than even the most optimistic fans would have thought possible. They played in their first NFC Championship Game since 1992, ending an extensive drought while piling on two road playoff wins in the process. 

Such an extraordinary run can only be topped by getting to and winning the Super Bowl. Thus, the Commanders have devoted all their efforts to enhance their chances. 

Only one fear stands in their way before they play any game. While Daniels dazzled everyone during his rookie season, he now looks to avoid the "sophomore slump."

There is not much science nor any correlation to this, rather it's a testament to the difficulty of carrying over the same successes from one's rookie season. After all, Commanders opponents will have more useful tap to apply to their preparation and many of the Commanders opponents have seen him before. 

Daniels himself has taken this seriously, bulking up and studying extra tape to make sure he is best prepared in all phases. However, it is hard to imagine too many steps back after the offseason the Commanders put together. 

Washington fortified its offensive line with a trade Laremy Tunsil and first-round pick Josh Conerly Jr. The backfield will possess the punch of Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler again while Daniels remains a strong runner himself. 

Outside, Terry McLaurin and Zach Ertz headline a group of pass catchers that adds Deebo Samuel to the mix after Washington traded for him in March. If anything, one could question the stability for the No. 3 receiver spot. 

Multiple trade proposals have been teased on the subject, but the Commanders' group of Noah. Brown, Luke McCaffrey and Jaylin Lane should put up quite the battle for that role. 

Altogether, that infrastructure and that talent would make many quarterbacks across the league quite jealous. Nonetheless, the onus ultimately falls on Daniels to carry on his elite level play. 

But as far as any "slumps" are concerned, Daniels has the pieces around him to avoid that situation almost entirely. Not only are the Commanders constructed to avoid regression, they are clearly going all in capitalizing on a cheap Daniels contract right now.