The rookie season of Washington Commanders' quarterback Jayden Daniels was perhaps one of the best we have seen. Taking a four-win team in 2023, through to the NFC Championship game after a 12-win regular season, Daniels took all before him in his first season.
Which makes the bar for improvement a little tricky because he was so good last year, but as training camp has gotten underway, the changes in Jayden have already been noticeable.
And for tight end Zach Ertz, Jayden is getting a handle on things.
“I think just the comfort level,” Ertz said. “He's not in for any surprises. He knows exactly what he's getting into each and every day. There is no competing necessarily like he was last year with Marcus [Mariota] going into this. So, I think everyone just knows it's his ship and we're trying to do our best every day to improve as a team.
"He's always been so poised, such high confidence, but I feel like he's just taken another step. He's very efficient out there. He sees the game a certain way. He's talking to guys how he sees it, making sure everyone's on his page, I think he's taken even more ownership of this thing as he should.”
We often see the biggest jump from players going from Year 1 to Year 2, and if Daniels takes the jump, many think he will, then the Commanders are going to be in business for the Super Bowl as long as he is healthy.
Yes, the dreaded sophomore slump is real, so Jayden will need to be wary of that, but everything this offseason has pointed to Daniels and the Commanders having a good season as one of the NFC heavyweights.
It has been a good ride for Daniels so far, but everyone will be coming for him in Year 2, which makes Ertz's words calm the fanbase because it feels like Jayden already is in a better place than he was a year ago.
Will that translate to a good season? Who knows, but Washington, with Daniels leading the way, is going to be a scary proposition in 2025.
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