Jayden Daniels has been the talk of the NFL, helping elevate a perennial underdog into one of the exciting rebirths of the season.
Russell Wilson and Jayden Daniels came up in two different eras. When Wilson came to the forefront in the early 2010s, the Seattle Seahawks were perennial write-offs, much like the Cincinnati Bengals before Joe Burrow arrived.
When Jayden Daniels arrived earlier this season, the Washington Commanders were perennial write-offs as well, but just like Wilson, Daniels wasted little time making noise.
Now, however, much like Wilson’s rise, it didn’t take long to put the NFL on notice. At 8-5 and locking down the league’s seventh seed spot, the Washington Commanders are in the driver’s seat for their first playoff appearance in years. Russell Wilson’s former teammate Bobby Wagner spoke about when he noticed the talent of Daniels.
Bobby Wagner immediately impressed by Jayden Daniels
Speaking on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Wagner claimed to know as early the first practices following the NFL Draft that something was special about his new quarterback.
He explained: “Honestly, I noticed he was coming in so early, like so early to put in work and learn the playbook. And then it probably was that first practice in training camp where we lined up against each other and he starts talking trash.
“And I was just like, okay, now he feel confident when you watch him put in the work. And so he earned the right to be confident. Once we saw him in the preseason and just saw how he moved and the decisions he was making and he does it with humility, which I respect a lot. So we knew pretty early on,” he said.
Of course, perhaps before anyone on the team, Commanders general manager Adam Peters knew he had someone. As the one in charge of making the pick, Peters was seemingly potentially signing up for what easily could have been his last quarterback in the worst way. Instead, assuming nothing disastrous happens, Peters may have picked his last quarterback in the best way.
Jayden Daniels heading into first final stretch of NFL career
In Week 14, Daniels’ Commanders were granted a much-deserved bye. After more than three months of games, the quarterback has the chance to catch his breath before heading into the final stretch of the season.
The Commanders are in good shape with an 8-5 record in the driver’s seat to reach the playoffs. According to NFL media’s playoff picture, Daniels has an 81% chance to make the playoffs. Optimistically, they have a chance to catch the Green Bay Packers, who have a 9-4 record in the sixth seed.
