What traits do Jayden Daniels, Patrick Mahomes share?

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels. Peter Casey-Imagn Images

What traits do Commanders' Jayden Daniels, Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes share?

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Dec 31, 2024 6:15 PM ET

Could Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels become the NFC's version of Patrick Mahomes?

Commanders guard Nick Allegretti played with the Kansas City Chiefs QB for five seasons. In a Tuesday episode of "89," James Palmer of Bleacher Report/Underdog Fantasy said that Allegretti recently revealed traits Mahomes and Daniels share.

"There are some traits of Patrick Mahomes in Jayden Daniels, in terms of there is a vibe around him, just a feeling of you're around them, and they just bring out this essence of 'Oh, we're going to win,'" Allegretti said, per Palmer. "There's no vibe to them that they will not succeed."

Daniels' poise has allowed him to excel in the clutch throughout the season. In 16 starts, the 2024 No. 2 overall pick is tied for the league's second-most fourth-quarter comebacks (four) and fourth-most winning drives (four), per Pro Football Reference.

In a 30-24 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 17, Daniels engineered a 12-play, 70-yard drive in overtime. On its last play, he threw a two-yard touchdown to tight end Zach Ertz.

JAYDEN DANIELS AND ZACH ERTZ CALLED GAME IN OT

(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/9j6amoE8sr
— ESPN (@espn) December 30, 2024

Mahomes, meanwhile, leads the league in fourth-quarter comebacks (five in 16 games) and winning drives (seven).

Of course, it's too early to tell if Daniels' career will come close to Mahomes'. In eight seasons with the Chiefs, the 29-year-old has won three Super Bowls and two MVPs.

Despite that, the Commanders have probably found their guy in Daniels. Washington (11-5) has already clinched a playoff berth and will try to win its first postseason game in 19 years.

If Daniels delivers postseason magic, he may keep drawing comparisons to Mahomes, who has five fourth-quarter comebacks in the playoffs.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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