Espn Analyst Reveals Strong Take On Commanders Jayden Daniels

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Nov 17, 2025, 9:05 AM

espn analyst reveals strong take on commanders jayden daniels

The Washington Commanders will have to play without young star quarterback Jayden Daniels during their Week 3 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. Unfortunately, he suffered a knee injury during the team's Week 2 loss on Thursday Night Football against the Green Bay Packers. There is some concern about Daniels after suffering the injury due to how much he has been getting hit. Add in the fact that the Commanders have a rough history when it comes to dual-threat quarterbacks, and it gets even more concerning. Robert Griffin III saw his career completely derailed by injuries during his time with Washington. Keeping that in mind, a popular ESPN personality has spoken out with an alarming outlook for Daniels.

Read more: Skip Bayless Fires Strong Words at Tom Brady Amid Raiders Drama Jayden Daniels was taken second overall in the 2024 NFL Draft by the Washington Commanders. Adding a prospect of Daniels’ caliber instantly can turn some franchises around. However, fans outside of Washington D.C. have appeared somewhat slow to jump on the bandwagon. That said, one ESPN analyst isn’t waiting.

Speaking on an episode of NFL Live via JPA Football with a hat tip to Earl Forcey on Twitter/X, analyst Louis Riddick offered high expectations. “Rarely does the ball ever hit the ground… he is going to take that town by storm.” Riddick complimented Daniels’ accuracy based on reports and conversations he had with people who have watched Daniels throw live. Daniels’ ball placement, velocity, and leadership have made the analyst a believer. Last season, Jayden Daniels put the NFL on notice by putting together a strong rookie campaign for the Washington Commanders. As he prepares for year two, one analyst is very confident in the young quarterback's trajectory.

It did not take long for Daniels to prove to the world why the Commanders were smart to select him No. 2 overall in the 2024 draft. He came out of the gates strong, throwing for over 3,500 yards and racking up 25 touchdowns in the regular season. Behind Daniels' impressive play, Washington picked up 12 wins and punched their ticket to the playoffs. The rookie QB then went on to lead them to upsets over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions before falling short against the Philadelphia Eagles. Based on how he played as a rookie, Daniels is now a player many are excited to see take the field in 2025.

Despite only entering his second season, one former player has set high expectations for the Commanders' QB. During an appearance on "NFL Live" this week, Booger McFarland touched on the idea of Daniels helping Washington emerge as a contender. "They know as long as he stays healthy and everyone around him does their part, he makes that next jump," McFarland said. "We're not just talking about a team that can get into the playoffs, you're talking about a team that could have one of the elite quarterbacks in the National Football League. And when you have one of those guys, that gives you an opportunity to win a championship." The NFL season kicks off this week, and all eyes are on the Washington Commanders.

Coming off a record-breaking campaign, the question is simple: can they do it again? Much of that optimism starts with second-year quarterback Jayden Daniels. Daniels enters 2025 with the confidence of a veteran, despite having only one season under his belt. His dual-threat ability led to a breakout rookie campaign in which he threw for 3,568 yards and 25 touchdowns while also adding 891 rushing yards and six scores on the ground. Those numbers have already made him one of the league’s most intriguing players to watch. That playmaking ability is why ESPN identified Daniels as the Commanders’ biggest strength heading into the season.

Daniels has shown the ability to extend drives with both his arm and legs, keeping defenses on edge. One opposing coach summed it up perfectly this offseason, saying Daniels “makes a lot of wrongs right,” according to ESPN. Having Daniels at quarterback has caused a ripple effect across the offense, with several players producing some of their best seasons alongside him. Wide receiver Terry McLaurin was one of the biggest beneficiaries, recording a career-high 13 touchdown receptions thanks to his chemistry with Daniels. Just as important as his production on the field has been Daniels’ growth as a leader off it. Teammates have praised his composure, work ethic, and calm demeanor.

Veteran tight end Zach Ertz described Daniels as the leader of the team, saying, “It’s crazy to think he’s only in his second year.” That kind of respect from both veterans and younger players... While almost everyone is raving about Jayden Daniels‘ emergence as one of the league’s top quarterbacks, Stephen A. Smith included, there are some who still doubt the Washington Commanders rookie. Among them is ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky and his take that the QB’s inclusion in the MVP race is an overreaction. Orlovsky recently addressed the growing discussion around Daniels as a potential early MVP candidate in the NFL. While acknowledging the quarterback’s impressive performance during his rookie season with the Commanders, Orlovsky believes it’s premature to place him in the MVP conversation just yet.

During a segment on First Take, Orlovsky argued that while Daniels has shown remarkable skills, including a record-setting 82.1% completion rate and seven total touchdowns in just four games, these achievements should be viewed... He pointed out that until Daniels leads his team to victory against a high-caliber opponent, it may be an overreaction to include him in MVP discussions. Orlovsky also said that Daniels needs to face stronger competition and demonstrate consistent excellence against top-tier defenses. Unlike most opinions about Daniels out there, Orlovsky isn’t convinced Daniels is at the level where other MVP contenders are. His take can be seen in an article written by Paul Harvey for Saturday Down South. Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters had a primary goal this offseason: continue building around franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels.

That's what Peters did, using draft picks to acquire talented veterans. The Commanders added one of the best left tackles in the NFL, Laremy Tunsil, and one of the league's most dangerous offensive weapons, Deebo Samuel. Samuel gives Washington a legit No. 2 receiver opposite Terry McLaurin. Peters allowed receivers Dyami Brown and Olamide Zaccheaus to walk, re-signed Noah Brown and used a fourth-round draft pick on Jaylin Lane. So, is the offensive core surrounding Daniels better than it was a year ago?

Bill Barnwell of ESPN ranks the top RB/WR/TE groups of all 32 NFL teams ahead of each season. This year, Barnwell has the Commanders' core ranked 13th. The arrival of quarterback Jayden Daniels and coordinator Kliff Kingsbury leveled everyone up in Washington. Terry McLaurin, finally given a quarterback worthy of his talents, soared on a per-route basis; he finished 16th in yards per route run and nearly doubled his prior career high in touchdowns, racking up... He didn't set a career high in receiving yards by virtue of not getting the same target totals he saw at times in previous seasons, but he was at his efficient best with improved... Last season, Jayden Daniels burst on the scene in a big way for the Washington Commanders after being drafted No.

2 overall. While many are ready to crown him the next big thing at the position, one analyst feels things are being handed to him a bit too soon. When a team drafts a quarterback that high, they hope he can be a pillar for the franchise for years to come. Washington didn't have to wait long to see Daniels prove himself, as he put together one of the top rookie campaigns from a QB in league history. While navigating his first year in the pros, he nearly helped the Commanders reach the Super Bowl. They pulled off a pair of upsets in the postseason, but their run came to an end against the Philadelphia Eagles in the conference championship.

Following his impressive showing last year, the hype around Daniels has gone through the roof. Many have dubbed him one of the league's best QBs already, and personnel within the league tend to agree. In ESPN's latest poll of the NFL's top ten quarterbacks, Daniels came in at No. 5. Some of the players he finished just ahead of include Matthew Stafford, Justin Herbert, and Jalen Hurts. Also read: Commanders Star Jayden Daniels Lands Notable Spot in Recent QB Rankings

While appearing on First Take earlier this week, Peter Schrager gave his thoughts on Daniels being crowned a top-five QB after just one season. He feels such an honor is a bit premature, and he wants to see a little more from the Commanders' star before putting him in this conversation.

Espn Analyst Reveals Strong Take On Commanders Jayden Daniels

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