Watch: Daniels checks all boxes in NFL preseason debut

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels. Lucas Boland-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Commanders QB Jayden Daniels checks all boxes in NFL preseason debut

By Eric Smithling | Last updated Aug 10, 2024 1:03 PM ET

Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels passed his first NFL test with flying colors on Saturday.

The No. 2 overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft led Washington to a touchdown drive on his lone possession against the Jets, including a deep pass to wide receiver Dyami Brown and a touchdown run to cap the drive.

Daniels' first completion went to Brown for 42 yards along the right sideline. Daniels showed the same timing he displayed at LSU, dropping the ball perfectly with a defender blanketing Brown.

Jayden Daniels launches it DEEP on his second throw

: Stream #WASvsNYJ on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/tGSoMxc4gI
— NFL (@NFL) August 10, 2024

Last season, Daniels received the highest Pro Football Focus grade on deep (20 or more yards) pass attempts. Per PFF Data, he was 35-of-55 (63.6 percent) for 1,347 yards (24.5 yards per attempt), 22 touchdowns and no interceptions on deep attempts in 2023.

Later, Daniels correctly read the Jets defense on a run option. Daniels faked a handoff to running back Austin Ekeler, and Jets defensive lineman Micheal Clemons crashed toward the line of scrimmage, freeing Daniels to run into the end zone for a 3-yard score.

Jayden Daniels keeps it for the TD on his opening drive @JayD__5

: Stream #WASvsNYJ on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/HbRsYFo9m6
— NFL (@NFL) August 10, 2024

Jets head coach Robert Saleh held his starters out of the game, but Daniels exhibited plenty of the things that made him one of the top quarterback prospects during the offseason.

Eric Smithling

Eric Smithling is a writer based in New Orleans, LA, whose byline also appears on Athlon Sports. He has been with Yardbarker since September 2022, primarily covering the NFL and college football, but also the NBA, WNBA, men’s and women’s college basketball, NHL, tennis and golf. He holds a film studies degree from the University of New Orleans

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