Jayden Daniels left an immediate impression on his teammates. The Washington Commanders made him their prized offseason acquisition at No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. Instead of coming in with a big ego or thinking the job was finished, it's been the complete opposite.
Daniels' outstanding work ethic and willingness to go above and beyond to prepare effectively are having the desired effect. He's off to a sensational start to begin the campaign, taking the league by storm and spearheading the Commanders to a phenomenal 4-1 record through five weeks.
This didn't happen by accident or coincidence. Daniels was ready for this moment and left nothing to chance. Something that's also driven others within the locker room to meet the same raised standards in the months following his arrival.
Terry McLaurin lauds Jayden Daniels' early impact on the Commanders
Wide receiver Terry McLaurin lifted the lid on Daniels' meteoric rise during a conversation with Albert Breer from Sports Illustrated. The Pro Bowler revealed that his quick ascension into a genuine franchise-caliber quarterback was surprising to a certain extent. He also lauded the signal-caller's commitment, which isn't going unnoticed by anyone on the offensive side of the football.
I didn’t anticipate him coming in and hitting the ground running like that. I’ve played with a few quarterbacks and definitely a few rookie quarterbacks. Sometimes it takes some time to get comfortable in the NFL system, not just at practice. What’s always encouraged me about him is his ability to get better every day in practice. When he would have a so-so practice, the next day he would not be making the same mistakes twice. When you see him working hard and putting in the time each day, you make sure you’re on your Ps and Qs as well because you know he’s going to be prepared. As his wide receiver, I want to be on the same page as him. I’ve got to make sure I’m preparing just like he is.Terry McLaurin via SI
Daniels isn't a vocal, flamboyant leader. He goes about his business with a quiet aura that people seem to naturally gravitate towards. However, there's no doubt McLaurin's comments indicate the Heisman Trophy winner out of LSU is leading by example. Others are following accordingly.
This sort of mentality has been sorely lacking across the Commanders in recent years. It's also exactly why general manager Adam Peters and his staff honed in on Daniels relatively early in their pre-draft assessments. His talent was never in question. What impressed them most was his high character and fierce inner drive.
McLaurin's been waiting his entire professional career for someone like Daniels to walk through the door. He's been holding down the fort almost single-handed thanks to the carousel of failed quarterbacks after several critical personnel flaws from the previous regime. It's early days, but the first-rounder looks to be worth his weight in gold.
Daniels is pushing everyone to be better. The Commanders are enjoying their football again and the new-look squad is responding well to a reinvigorated atmosphere across the organization. Sustaining this positivity is the big challenge, but this once-proud franchise is in good hands at long last.
Every fledgling quarterback needs a dependable wide receiver. Every wide receiver needs a prolific quarterback. It's early days, but the relationship between Daniels and McLaurin seems like a match made in heaven so far.
