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Huge Expectations Placed On Commanders' Jayden Daniels In 2025

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Adam Schultz | Last updated Jul 15, 2025 1:01 PM ET

Washington Commanders' quarterback Jayden Daniels has everything in front of him in Year 2 as he looks to lead this team to the promised land after a sensational rookie season.

Now seen as one of the better quarterbacks in football, not just the NFC, expectations are sky-high for Daniels and the Commanders in 2025, with the offseason signings, coupled with the expected ascension of Daniels to become an elite quarterback, Washington has big plans for the year ahead.

In Jeremy Fowler's top 10 quarterback rankings, Daniels comes in at No. 5 with an NFL coordinator who played Daniels last season, giving him a serious compliment.

"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," an NFL coordinator said via ESPN.

"The kid can read coverages, throw with accuracy and touch to all levels of the field, just as dangerous as Lamar 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."

That is quite the endorsement, and in truth, given how his rookie season panned out, that is the expectation for Daniels in his second season.

Having all the tools from both a football and mental standpoint, along with incredible intangibles, Daniels will be looked at as one of the best quarterbacks in football when he steps onto the field in Week 1.

His biggest challenge is replicating what he did last season, and 12 wins, two playoff victories, 3,568 yards, 25 touchdowns, nine interceptions, along with 891 rushing yards and six touchdowns, will be tough to do again.

But there seems to be enough confidence that Daniels can get close to that type of season again, and if he can, and lead the Commanders back to the NFC Championship game, who knows, he might climb higher on this list next season.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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