Kliff Kingsbury Expects Major Improvement From Commanders Jayden Daniels

Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders soared to unexpected heights last season. After all, most rookie quarterbacks are either watching from the sidelines or on vacation when conference championships roll around in January. 

That was not the case for Daniels in 2024. The NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year powered a stunning playoff run that saw Washington knock off two division champions in the NFC including the No. 1 Detroit Lions to reach the NFC Championship Game. 

The Commanders' run came to an end there though they broke a decades long drought and learned a valuable lesson along the way. Their time is now to compete for titles with Daniels. 

By the time Daniels becomes eligible for his first contract extension, it will likely be a massive one and "record breaking" is not a phrase out of the question. That means the Commanders have a window open now to capitalize on his brilliance in competing for a title. 

This will rely on his on growth as a player. Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury alluded to that process during OTAs last week. 

"You can see the comfort level was there this year," Kingsbury said. "I mean, just watching him move around, he's not thinking as much, he's playing fast and letting his natural gifts kind of take over, and that's what we want to see. So, I expect him to take a big jump." 

Much of this Commanders' contention charge has focused on the ancillary moves around Daniels to improve the roster. Trades for Deebo Samuel and Laremy Tunsil certainly elevates the quality of this group as a whole. 

But for the importance of those moves there is also a necessity for Daniels to continue in his development. All signs point to him following through on that front though a year of tape on him and the feared "sophomore slump" linger in the background as potential concerns for 2025. 

If Daniels' offseason progress translates on the field in the coming months, the Commanders should feel pretty good about their postseason prospects down the line. Until then, Daniels remains an unfinished product ahead of the regular season and needs to keep making strides for that "jump" to bring tangible results.