Jayden Daniels has been turning heads as the standout quarterback for the Washington Commanders, clinching the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award for an impressive 2024 season. Taking his team all the way to the NFC Championship Game before falling to the eventual Super Bowl-winning Philadelphia Eagles, Daniels has quickly become a powerhouse on the field.
In a recent revelation, NFL insider Albert Breer from Sports Illustrated shared insights into the collaborative efforts behind Daniels’ success. This past offseason saw Daniels working with quarterback trainer Taylor Kelly to establish a unified language with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. The goal? To perfect his craft by refining his lower body mechanics and tackling specifics like throws to his left and those under diverse arm angles. Kingsbury, alongside his coaching staff, decided to streamline the offense, building on what worked and discarding the strategies that didn’t pay off in 2024.
Daniels’s performance last season helped Washington notch a 12-5 record and secure two crucial playoff victories, edging them closer to a Super Bowl berth. StatMuse reported that Daniels secured the seventh spot in the league with 4,459 combined passing and rushing yards and ranked ninth with a tally of 31 combined touchdowns. His skills shine even brighter when you consider that he boasted a fourth-place finish among qualified players with a 70.6 adjusted QBR, according to Pro Football Reference.
To ensure Daniels avoids the dreaded sophomore slump, the Commanders bolstered their roster with offensive dynamo Deebo Samuel, stalwart left tackle Laremy Tunsil, and rookie sensation Josh Conerly Jr. ESPN’s John Keim highlighted that Daniels was among the league leaders in screen passes, while Samuel’s knack for achieving 61.5% of his receiving yards after the catch, ranks him tenth in that statistical category among receivers with at least 25 receptions.
The continuity within the Commanders’ coaching ranks is another reason to feel optimistic about Daniels’ future. The decision to keep Kliff Kingsbury, pass game coordinator Brian Johnson, quarterbacks coach Tavita Pritchard, and backup QB Marcus Mariota has paved a seamless path for Daniels’ development as a potential elite quarterback. As organized team activities kicked off in April, this consistency offered the quarterback room a leg up.
With his stellar rookie season and the solid support around him, it’s no surprise that Daniels stands as a strong contender for the MVP Award in the upcoming season, with odds at +750 according to DraftKings Sportsbook. As we gear up for another thrilling NFL season, all eyes will be on Daniels to see if he can elevate his game even further and solidify his status as one of the league’s elite stars.
