Before their matchup on Sunday, Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels isn't welcoming comparisons to Baltimore Ravens star Lamar Jackson.
"I don't like when people really try to compare me to Lamar and vice versa," Daniels said Wednesday, per The Athletic's Ben Standig. "We're two different players. ...I'm not close-minded I always want to be able to grow, but at the end of the day, I want to be known as Jayden Daniels and not the next such and such."
Jackson — a two-time MVP — isn't a fan of the comparisons, either.
"[Daniels] is his own player, [and] he's his own man, at the end of the day," Jackson said Wednesday, via Ryan Mink of the team website. "We're just trying to make a name for ourselves, not anyone else, so I agree with that — definitely."
While Jackson and Daniels insist they're different, their play styles and résumés are similar.
Daniels won the 2023 Heisman Trophy at LSU, passing for 3,812 yards and 40 touchdowns. He also rushed for 1,134 yards and 10 scores. Jackson earned the 2016 Heisman at Louisville, throwing for 3,543 yards and 30 TDs. Additionally, he ran for 1,571 yards and 21 scores.
No. 2 overall pick Daniels became the only player to pass for at least 1,000-plus yards and run for 250-plus yards in his first five starts, via NFL.com researcher Dante Koplowitz-Fleming. In 2019, Jackson was the first player to throw for 3,000-plus yards and rush for 1,000-plus yards.
Both are MVP candidates. As of Wednesday night, FanDuel Sportsbook gives Jackson the third-best odds (+650) to win the award, while Daniels has the fifth-best (+1100).
Daniels probably has more to gain on Sunday. If he leads Washington (4-1) to a road win over Baltimore (3-2), that should help the 23-year-old distinguish himself.
