The Washington Commanders may have had second picking of the talented quarterback class from the 2024 NFL Draft, but perhaps they got the best of the group with the selection of Jayden Daniels.
Granted, Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams experienced a much different situation in year one in comparison to Daniels. But what the NFL's Rookie of the Year showcased last season stood out not only among his class, but all rookies in modern history.
Daniels guided an upstart Commanders group to the NFC Championship where they fell to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles.
But they made their first appearance in that game in decades and picked off two division winners in the process, beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and gutting the Detroit Lions.
If anything, this past season showed the Commanders should be considered among the elite teams in the NFL or at a minimum knocking at the door for entry. Not only should their team at large be in those conversations, but their quarterback as well.
Daniels' playoff run was no accident. Instead, he merely continued the impressive marks established throughout a regular season campaign that earned him a spot on the NFC's Pro Bowl roster.
Those marks included 3,568 passing yards and 25 touchdowns through the air with 891 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the ground.
It also earns Daniels consideration already as a top-five quarterback in the league, getting placed at No. 5 in NFL.com's quarterback rankings from the 2024 season. He sits behind big names including Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow and Jared Goff.
The praise for Daniels almost comes at no surprise, but he has clearly earned the acclaim with his work on the field. He has also given the franchise new life.
Washington has experienced significant change in the last five years with two name changes and a transition from disgraced former ownership. When those events transpire, buzzwords regarding change hold only so much lasting power.
Daniels' rocket ship burst into stardom gives those words tangible evidence, blazing a new path forward for the Commanders. Beyond the symbolism, Washington's star clearly has the tools to put his team in the championship conversation.
When a quarterback has that kind of ability, there is no question where they stand among the league pecking order.
