Commanders’ entire season rests on Jayden Daniels’ skinny legs

If you glance at the Washington Commanders roster, you might miss it. And, yes, a big injury has contributed to this situation. But the Commanders’ entire season rests on the skinny legs of quarterback Jayden Daniels.

First, this isn’t a knock on Daniels’ slender frame. He’s listed as 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds. That doesn’t sound all that thin. But on an NFL field it sure looks like it. And who knows if the 210 is generous?

The reference is more about whether he can avoid injury. Last season showed an ugly truth. He had a horrific injury against the Seahawks. And another ugly leg bend against the Cowboys that turned out to be fairly minor.

How stable is the house QB Jayden Daniels is carrying?

Daniels seems to be right on track in terms of what he brings to the field, according to ESPN.

“I love that he’s decisive,” Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said. “He’s got a unique ability to put the ball in the right location. I like that he’s in a system that he is now at the line of scrimmage working more things. That might be the biggest difference between the last couple of years and this year is him at the line of scrimmage and working through.

“He’s done a good job with cadence. That’s not something that we’ve done here before. Those are a few of the things that don’t show up on the stat sheet that he’s doing a really good job with.”

New offensive coordinator David Blough agreed.

“He’s as accurate as he’s ever been,” Blough said. “It’s just a testament to asking him to do something different and him wanting to grow and evolve.”

On any NFL team, Daniels would have the stuff to be a difference-maker. He can carry the Commanders. They could be a playoff contender mainly because of him.

But let’s look at what the Commanders have surrounded him with, and what they’re actually asking him to do.

It’s a house of cards with the Commanders

Before the Laremy Tunsil injury, Daniels at least felt protected from the blind side by one of the league’s best left tackles. Sure, Brandon Coleman could be serviceable until Tunsil gets back late in the season — if he does at all this year.

But now Daniels must carry the entire offense. He must make the offensive line better with his scrambling ability. Receivers may or may not get open, so Daniels will have to throw them open. The ground game won’t scare anybody. So Daniels will have to make a lot of third-down plays by keeping plays alive or with pinpoint accuracy.

If you want proof of how much this weighs on Daniels, consider Mike Clay’s ESPN ranking of the best and worst position groups. The Commanders got the No. 8 spot at quarterback because of Daniels. That’s playoff worthy.

But look at the rest:

• Running back — No. 31
• Wide receiver — No. 22 (generous by Clay)
• Tight end — No. 28 (probably a bit too low)
• Offensive line — No. 31

In every instance, the Commanders’ other offensive position groups need Daniels to do something special to make the team have a chance to be competitive.

And there’s another facet to this. The Commanders have a young, first-year offensive coordinator in Blough. He needs Daniels to be crazy good or Blough will fall on his face.

Bringing in veteran receiver Stefon Diggs certainly helped matters. But it’s more from a mentorship role at this stage of his career. At 32, he’s another one of the Commanders’ old roster.

Remember in the offseason when the Commanders claimed they were going to get younger and faster? Well, as things stand now, they are the third-oldest team in the NFL, according to bookies.com. That could change when the 53-man rosters are officially announced. But it’s hard to see the Commanders moving away from their average age of 26 years and 352 days.

So, not only is Daniels carrying the team. He’s carrying a bunch of aging veterans. Good luck with that.

Without a true ground-game threat, a shaky offensive line, and old receivers, Daniels doesn’t seem to have a fighting chance.

Yes, the defense is better. It should be able to make plays it didn’t make last year. But let’s be honest there, too, going back to Clay’s rankings.

• Interior defensive line — No. 21
• Edge rusher — No. 29 (way too low, probably more like 20-22)
• Off-ball linebacker — No. 19
• Cornerback — No. 22 (generous)
• Safety — No. 28

If those rankings are remotely accurate, Daniels can’t count on the defense winning any games. The Commanders will need points every week.

What happens if Daniels gets injured?

That’s the ultimate disaster scenario for the Commanders. To be fair, many NFL teams would be hurting if they lose their starting quarterback for any significant period of time. However, with the Commanders, they might not win a single game without Daniels behind center.

The worst part about the Commanders shaping the roster in this manner is the pure waste. They have a genuine third-year star talent at the quarterback position, and they’ve failed to surround him with elite offensive talent.

It would have made far more sense for the Commanders to build an offensive line fortress, add a game-breaking young receiver, and have a genuine threat in the backfield. The Commanders might lose some 35-31 shootouts, but at least they would be fun to watch.

This year, if Daniels has an excellent game, the Commanders will have a decent shot to win. If he’s very good, they might be able to pull out a victory but could still lose. However, if Daniels is merely good, or average, the Commanders are going to lose football games.

It’s never wise for an NFL team to build everything on the foundation of one player. Daniels had more help in 2024 as a rookie than he does this season. So don’t expect another run to the NFC Championship Game. Just hold out hope the Commanders can keep Daniels upright, and maybe the .500 mark is within reach.