Fred Smoot 'flabbergasted' by Jayden Daniels' development

Fred Smoot doesn't like making lists. They are too subjective; too dependent on other players performing well. To put it plainly, he believes they are a worthless exercise.

But, if he had to make one ranking the quarterbacks in the NFC East, like Michael Jenkins asked him to do on the latest episode of Get Loud, he knows who he would put at the top.

"The best thrower of the ball in the NFC East is Jayden Daniels," Smoot said. "The best runner of the football is Jayden Daniels. That makes him the No. 1 quarterback."

Daniels is coming off arguably the best rookie season in NFL history while leading the Commanders to their first NFC Championship since 1991. He recorded 5,416 combined yards in the regular and postseason -- a rookie record -- including 891 yards on the ground (also a rookie record). That doesn't even mention all the highlight moments he created along the way, like the touchdown throw that won the game against the Cincinnati Bengals and the Hail Mary throw against the Chicago Bears.

But it isn't just the heroics on the field that made Smoot believe Daniels is the best signal-caller in the division; it's the way he proved himself as a leader on a roster that is now the oldest in the NFL. He earned veterans' respect because of how hard he worked during the offseason. Now, players like Zach Ertz, who has been around his share of talented quarterbacks, are bought into Daniels and his skill set.

"That's why I'm just so flabbergasted by what Jayden Daniels has done," Smoot said. "He doesn't go reaching for leadership; he goes asking for it ... It's so easy when you got that guy in the room."

Of course, being a talented player certainly helps that, which is why Smoot put Daniels slightly ahead of Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts. Hurts obviously has a better resume than Daniels at this point in their careers -- a Super Bowl win and Super Bowl MVP along with two Pro Bowls -- but Smoot went off ability alone, which is why Daniels is at the top for him.

"I think Jayden throws the ball with more precision and anticipation than he [Hurts] does," Smoot said. "I think Jayden is a more dangerous runner."

Of course, Hurts still has the edge in head-to-head matchups and a Super Bowl win, which is what Daniels wants most. The Commanders have tried to surround Daniels with more weapons and protection this offseason to close the gap between them and the Eagles, and we'll see how much that effort will pay off in Week 16 this season.

Check out the video above for the full episode of Get Loud.