Jayden Daniels has modified the comical Commanders right into a critical franchise

There are occasions in life when the second shall be first.

Within the 2023 draft, the Carolina Panthers made a serious commerce with the Chicago Bears to leap up and take Alabama quarterback Bryce Younger with the No 1 general choose. The Houston Texans have been second, they usually took Ohio State’s CJ Stroud.

Greater than a season later, the returns have returned. Younger has struggled to the purpose the place he’s the backup for a 36-year-old journeyman, and Stroud – who had among the best rookie quarterback seasons ever – was the runaway NFL Offensive Rookie of the 12 months.

Within the 2024 draft, quarterbacks went one and two once more. The Bears took USC’s Caleb Williams with the primary general choose they acquired from the Panthers the 12 months earlier than. After which, the Washington Commanders chosen LSU’s Jayden Daniels at No 2.

And with that choice, a as soon as comical franchise seems to have been saved.

Williams has performed about in addition to the Bears’ offense will let him, however after the primary 4 weeks of the 2024 season, Daniels doesn’t simply appear like the very best rookie signal-caller in his class – he seems to be like among the best rookie quarterbacks we’ve ever seen.

The numbers thus far have been preposterous.

• Daniels’ EPA per dropback (a dependable indicator of per-play effectivity) of 0.32 is the best for any rookie quarterback in Weeks 1-4 since at the least 2000, and Daniels leads the NFL in passing EPA general at +50.7. That’s a long way forward of Josh Allen, who’s second at +36.7.

• Daniels’ completion price of 82.1% is the best for any quarterback over a four-game stretch at any level in a profession (minimal 100 go makes an attempt) since at the least 1950.

• The Commanders have had 23 scoring drives this season, and Daniels has simply 19 incompletions. The 1973 Los Angeles Rams are the one different staff in NFL historical past to have extra scoring drives than incompletions within the first 4 video games of a season.

• The 2024 Commanders have the second-highest EPA per drive by way of the primary 4 video games of a season in NFL historical past. The 2007 New England Patriots, broadly considered the very best offensive staff ever, are the one staff with the next general effectivity.

Some quarterbacks who’re ruthlessly environment friendly turn into so as a result of they throw principally low-cost stuff beneath defensive coverages. That’s not Daniels. On passes of 10-19 air yards this season, he has accomplished 18 of 21 passes for 294 yards, one landing, no interceptions, a passer score of 134.6, and a passing EPA of +29.0 – second-best within the NFL behind Brock Purdy. On passes of 20 or extra air yards, Daniels has accomplished two of eight passes for 82 yards, one landing, one interception, a passer score of 69.8, and a passing EPA of +0.4. The deep ball has been one among Daniels’ few shortcomings thus far, however you’ll be able to already see him processing the errors, and transferring ahead.

Washington’s 42-14 thrashing of the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday was a significant homecoming for Daniels, who spent his first three collegiate seasons at Arizona State earlier than transferring to LSU, and for Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who was the Cardinals’ head coach from 2019-2022. Commanders head coach Dan Quinn made certain to present Kingsbury the sport ball after the win, as a result of he is aware of how a lot it meant to his OC, and the way a lot Kingsbury has taken Daniels’ ridiculous attributes to their highest doable aircraft.

Not that Daniels is ideal. As is the case with any rookie quarterback, he makes the occasional boneheaded throw. However defenses can’t depend on him making an error, and they should take benefit if he does, as a result of he learns from his errors, and he does so shortly on the sector. We noticed that in Sunday’s sport. Within the first-half, Daniels threw his first NFL interception: Arizona cornerback Garrett Williams was in a greater place than Washington’s Terry McLaurin on a late, deep go and picked the rookie off. On Daniels’ subsequent try, he once more threw late to McLaurin on a deep go, and Williams almost had one other choose. However Daniels settled down, and threw simply two incompletions from then on.

“They didn’t actually say something to me,” Daniels stated of his coaches and teammates concerning the interception. “I need that one again, however you’re good, transfer on to the following play. The NFL is all the time in regards to the subsequent play. You may’t return and repair what occurred up to now, however no one actually had a dialog with me about that.”

Maybe as a result of they know that Daniels not often makes the identical mistake twice.

And for probably the most half, Daniels has already proven that he’s able to working a posh NFL offense in a approach you don’t count on from first-year guys. He’s already processing the sport consistent with his bodily attributes at a degree you’d count on from Patrick Mahomes or Matthew Stafford, the acknowledged masters of pocket motion and the no-look go. This 17-yard completion to fellow rookie Luke McCaffrey (the youthful brother of Christian) towards the Cardinals had Daniels doing all of that. It’s laborious for a protection to have an applicable reply to a play like this. One thing you simply have to simply accept it, tip your cap, and transfer on.

Whereas there have been different rookie quarterbacks who’ve began off sturdy within the NFL solely to flame out, Daniels seems to be like he’s right here to remain. Kingsbury has expanded his playcalling palette from his Arizona days to present Daniels open ideas for his receivers, and though Daniels has no subject going by way of all of the progressions in a play, he additionally is aware of when to take the revenue his coaches and targets have arrange for him. Daniels can play celebrity when it’s required, however he doesn’t merely depend on his bodily skills – and at 6ft 4in and 210lbs with blazing velocity he has just a few. As was the case throughout his Heisman Trophy season of 2023, Daniels simply understands the sport at a special degree. That was true after I was capable of watch tape with him the day earlier than he gained that award, and it’s much more so now.

As Quinn stated after Sunday’s sport, his new quarterback who gained’t let something (together with an Outdated House Week return to the Valley of the Solar) have an effect on his preparation.

“I had informed him earlier that I used to be actually happy with him. I knew there have been some further tales being right here again at ASU. And very similar to Kliff, you’d by no means have identified that. I simply thought he dealt with it like an actual G. Stayed regular throughout by way of the preparation,” Quinn stated. “He and the quarterbacks and the fellows, there have been many late nights within the room watching tape collectively. There was only one workplace down from mine within the lodge and throughout the week together with final evening, simply placing within the further time going into it. They only form of stayed round and have been speaking by way of all of the stuff, so I feel that speaks to their preparation.”

Which is why, as spectacular as he’s already been, Daniels is unlikely to be a four-game surprise. What you see with this explicit marvel is precisely what you get.