Commanders’ gamble on Jayden Daniels gaining steam with elite status in sight

Jayden Daniels enjoyed a rookie campaign for the ages. Influential figures around the league believe the Washington Commanders quarterback is just getting started.

There wasn't anything the signal-caller couldn't do last season. Almost everything Daniels touched turned to gold during Washington's incredible run to the NFC Championship game. He was poised, composed, agile, and always ready to come through when the lights were brightest.

Most fans expected solid output from Daniels as a rookie. Nobody anticipated this level of impact so soon into his professional career.

Speculation around a sophomore slump for Daniels has been rife in the media this offseason. The NFL holds a different opinion, voting the former LSU standout as the league's fifth-best quarterback in Jeremy Fowler of ESPN's annual rankings.

Commanders' Jayden Daniels could be a top-three quarterback with a strong second season

An anonymous NFL coordinator who had to prepare for Daniels' skills last season spoke glowingly about his outlook. He believes a repeat of his first-year exploits could see him cement his status among the elite when it's all said and done.

Single-handedly took one of the worst franchises to the NFC title game as a rookie with a bad defense, one legitimate wide receiver, a dinosaur at tight end [12th-year pro Zach Ertz] and average-at-best OL. The kid can read coverages, throw with accuracy and touch to all levels of the field, just as dangerous as Lamar [Jackson] and Josh Allen with his legs and has a clutch factor to him because his team already believes that if he has the ball with a chance to win, he's going to find a way. If he repeats anything close to his rookie year, he's no lower than No. 3 on this list next year.NFL coordinator via ESPN

This quashes the myth that Daniels is going to drop off. Respected people around the league see how sustainable his athletic attributes typically are. They know how hard he works to improve his craft. They also know how determined he is to be the very best.

The Commanders think so, too. They threw their support behind Daniels this offseason, finding the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year a new bookend tackle tandem to keep him cleaner in the pocket. He's also got some new weapons in the passing game, such as Deebo Samuel Sr. and fourth-round pick Jaylin Lane, to depend upon.

Everything is in place for Daniels to excel. He's no longer looking back at some phenomenal accomplishments in Year 1. He's firmly focused on what comes next, which involves helping the Commanders go deep into the postseason and potentially enter the NFL MVP race.

That's the goal. And Daniels will stop at nothing to achieve it.

More Commanders news and analysis