The Washington Commanders are hoping for an exciting season, and they have all the momentum and hype behind their quarterback Jayden Daniels. Daniels went on to have a great rookie season, making the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year a unanimous decision. Now, he’s prepared to double down on that success. Last season, he passed for 3,568 yards and threw 25 touchdowns, while rushing for 891 yards and scoring six rushing touchdowns. His remarkable performance rocketed the Commanders to a 12-5 record and an appearance in the NFC Championship Game.
Daniels’ remarkable season earned him the number two overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. In the process, he’s gained national attention for his standout accomplishments on the diamond and eye-popping ventures off it. He’s a pretty well-respected author, having written or collaborated on four books, giving him a wide-ranging life beyond the sport of football. As he enters his second season, Daniels has noticeably changed physically. He appears more muscular and has added weight during the offseason. True to form, he insists that despite the issues, his focus and deck are still solidly in place.
With a commitment to improvement, Daniels stated, “I’ve got to go out there and prove myself every day, no matter if it was last season, this season, 10, 20 years down the road, you have to prove yourself each and every season.” This mentality drives his passion as he trains today for the difficult fight to come.
Tyler Biadasz, a former Commanders teammate and current Cowboys center, expressed pride in Daniels’ progress. “He’s growing for sure. Every single day, that guy grows,” Biadasz noted. He further emphasized Daniels’ leadership qualities, stating, “And he keeps raising the bar for himself and for the team, and his leadership has been awesome throughout.”
The coaching staff is on record with this excitement and optimism regarding Daniels’ potential. Dan Quinn, one of the Commanders’ assistant coaches, had high praise for Daniels’ work ethic and dedication. “There is no flinch in Jayden Daniels. He’s as focused and relentless as you could be about getting better. We appreciate that,” Quinn said.
Kliff Kingsbury, another member of the coaching staff, emphasized how vital it is for quarterbacks to develop familiarity within their system. “The main thing is just being comfortable and familiar with the playcaller, familiar with how he calls plays,” said Daniels. Kingsbury added, “He is very highly motivated, and that’s always exciting for the organization.”
Daniels has always flashed his arm talent to make every throw on the field, now he’s doing it more comfortably while getting pressured. His performance in 2022 was an extremely high bar to reach, and he hopes to raise it even further during the 2023 season.
So as the Commanders approach training camp, Daniels’ earnestness to sharpen his craft will be put to the test. From his teammates to coaches, they all value this commitment and look forward to it propelling them to new heights as a true collective.
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