Commanders in 'no rush' to name Jayden Daniels starting QB

Since the conclusion of spring workouts, Washington Commanders insider John Keim of ESPN has shared why the Commanders are in "no rush" to name rookie Jayden Daniels their starting quarterback over veteran Marcus Mariota.

Keim offered an update on the situation for a piece published Wednesday.

"Daniels has shown his skill during camp -- his accurate and deft touch on his throws; the speed that makes him dangerous as a runner," Keim noted. "However, Washington coaches still want him to show more consistency in all areas; from his footwork to making the right reads and proper checks."

The Commanders made Daniels the second overall pick of this year's draft, and a plethora of analysts have said since June that the 23-year-old is on track to start Washington's regular-season opener at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 8. With that said, DraftKings Sportsbook had Washington at +225 betting odds to win over 8.5 games for the upcoming season as of Wednesday morning. Such forecasts show many believe Daniels won't be a first-year savior for the organization.

"In the offseason, the team added veterans such as linebacker Bobby Wagner, tight end Zach Ertz and running back Austin Ekeler to lessen the need for Daniels to become an instant team leader," Keim pointed out. "The organization also is trying its best to protect [Daniels] from unrealistic expectations. The team has not made him the face of their promotional material, for instance. They don't want him to become the face of the franchise until he shows what he can do in the NFL."

Like any rookie signal-caller, Daniels has had good and bad moments during summer practices. How he performs when he makes his preseason debut at the New York Jets on Aug. 10 could either solidify the fact that he's the best quarterback on Washington's roster or leave the door open for Mariota to get the nod for the Buccaneers matchup.

"There are days Daniels looks more than ready, and other days that might reveal to the coaches he has more to learn," Keim added.

Talk about a legitimate quarterback competition will likely continue to hover over the Commanders at least until Daniels shows on the second Saturday of August what he's learned over the past few months.