Commanders' Jayden Daniels discusses staying cool amid hype, Super Bowl chatter

Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels has seemingly embraced the pressure associated with being the second overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, a Week 1 starter and a playoff competitor tasked with winning must-win games in his first pro season. 

Thus, one shouldn't be surprised that he's keeping his cool with the Commanders a win over the Philadelphia Eagles in this Sunday's NFC Championship Game away from completing a trip to the Super Bowl. 

"I’m not really going out there and stressing about the moment because at the end of the day, I get to do what I love each and every week win, lose or draw," Daniels said on Wednesday, as shared by Stephen Whyno of the Associated Press. "It’s just a blessing to be one of those kids that are able to fulfill their dream and live out their dream of playing on Sundays in the NFL." 

The Daniels hype train was already speeding down the track when he entered the postseason tournament as the presumptive Offensive Rookie of the Year Award winner. If anything, that train has only picked up momentum due to his performances in playoff wins at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and at the top-seeded Detroit Lions. 

Earlier this week, seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady compared Daniels to golf legend and global sports icon Tiger Woods. For a piece published Thursday morning, Bill Barnwell of ESPN suggested Daniels has had the best rookie season in NFL history regardless of what happens at Lincoln Financial Field this Sunday. 

Per ESPN stats, Daniels leads the NFL for the playoffs with an 86.8 adjusted QBR, 567 passing yards and four passing touchdowns (tied with two others). He also rushed for 87 yards on 29 attempts across his first two postseason games. 

Even though Daniels may be just four quarters away from playing on the sport's biggest stage, he insisted on Wednesday he is "not even thinking that far" ahead. Such a mentality could help him guide the Commanders to a third straight upset win. 

"It would obviously be a blessing, but I’m just focused on how can I be better day by day," Daniels added about possibly playing in Super Bowl LIX. "There’s countless teams that want to be in this position. ...You can’t really take it for granted, but you also just got to be in the moment."

As of Thursday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Commanders as six-point underdogs versus the Eagles. Some young signal-callers in Daniels' position may feel disrespected by such a line, but it sounds like he'll simply ignore any pregame predictions as he prepares for what he hopes will become only the second-biggest contest of his rookie campaign.