How Jayden Daniels Convinced The Commanders He D Be A Star

Imagine you’re an NFL player gearing up for the upcoming season. It doesn’t take long to notice when a teammate has the potential to bring both energy and excellence to the squad—not just because of their personality but also due to their skillset on the... That’s exactly what Washington Commanders star wide receiver Terry McLaurin felt the moment he saw rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels in action. From the start of training camp, McLaurin noticed something special about the 24-year-old quarterback. “He’s the real deal,” McLaurin told a reporter during the Commanders’ second practice of the preseason, accordingo to ESPN. At that moment, the veteran wideout knew Daniels had the makings of a future star.

McLaurin’s praise didn’t stop there. Reflecting on their dynamic, he shared a key moment from Week 5 of the regular season. Frustrated with his own performance, McLaurin admitted he wasn’t playing up to his high standards. “I expect a lot of myself,” McLaurin told the media. But that’s when Daniels stepped in. “He came over, sat down with me, and said, ‘First of all, we’re winning.

You’re playing great. You’re going to make that play nine times out of 10. We trust you, and I trust you.’“ Jayden Daniels #5 of the Washington Commanders looks on during the second half against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on September 29, 2024. When Jayden Daniels first reported to the Washington Commanders' rookie minicamp shortly after being drafted in the spring of 2024, he said all of the right things. He continued to say the right things throughout minicamp, training camp, and in the season.

One famous Daniels' quote was that he was not a star, he was a rookie. Daniels preferred to let his play do the talking. He deferred to Commanders' veterans like Bobby Wagner, Terry McLaurin and Zach Ertz, while quietly going about his business, building relationships with every single player and coach on the roster. By the middle of the season, whether he realized it or not, the rookie sensation was already one of Washington's leaders. Daniels continues to say all of the right things because that's who he is. However, entering his second NFL season, and becoming more comfortable with Kliff Kingsbury's offense and his teammates, Daniels has taken a more active role as a leader.

Veteran running back Austin Ekeler recently revealed that Daniels kicked an unknown player out of the huddle in training camp due to a false start. "He said, 'Get out, we can't be doing that,'" Ekeler said, via John Keim of ESPN. "That's leadership we wouldn't have seen last year. He's holding the standard, letting everyone know this is how we play. If you're not playing at this level, you can't be on the field. That's awesome to see in a quarterback."

Daniels met with the media on Thursday and discussed his ever-evolving leadership. The Washington Commanders' season has spiraled into a horror show. They have suffered four consecutive losses — the latest three by at least 20 points — and star quarterback Jayden Daniels is sidelined for the third different time. Injuries, on the whole, have derailed a campaign that started with such high hopes after last year's NFC Championship game run. In addition, age has caught up with a roster that wasn't built to be sustained. The Commanders overachieved in 2024 as much as they've underachieved this year.

And their regression has badly exposed one particular myth surrounding Daniels' rookie performance that's worth revisiting. When the Commanders drafted Daniels, everyone expected Year 1 to be bad. The team had won four games the prior season. The offensive line was historically awful, and the defense wasn't much better. Washington boasted one legitimate receiving weapon, Terry McLaurin, who was considered above average. Even with a new coaching staff and general manager, there was no immediate fix.

There became one because of Daniels. He was the fix. Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters knew what he was getting when he informed his staff that they were taking LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 overall pick. Peters, who jumped into the task of turning the Commanders franchise into a contender last January following the team's 4-13 campaign in 2023, had done his research up to that point. He had watched countless hours of film, spoken to coaches and seen the pre-draft workouts.

He spoke with Daniels personally, both at the Scouting Combine and at the Commanders' facility in Ashburn, Virginia, to see if all the things he heard about Daniels' work ethic, attention to detail and... Daniels checked all the boxes. Peters was convinced he had found Washington a quarterback -- something the franchise had spent years searching for -- and a foundation for the team's future. He was proven right, time and time again, in the form of dramatic wins, a deep playoff run and several broken franchise and NFL records. "If we could've run it up, we would've run that pick up," Peters said after Night 1 of the NFL Draft. "We waited a little while because I think they tell us to do that, but we couldn't be happier."

Commanders fans know what it's like having Daniels as their quarterback. It involves a belief that their team has a chance to win as long as he's in the game. That ended up being true, as Daniels went on to complete 69% of his passes for 3,568 yards with 31 total touchdowns. It might have required them to wait until the last second of games, but they were usually rewarded with unforgettable moments. The Commanders went 12-5 and advanced to the NFC Championship -- both firsts for the franchise since 1991. Commanders RB Highlights When He Knew Jayden Daniels Was Star originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The Washington Commanders knew early on they had a star on their hands in 2024 second-overall pick Jayden Daniels. Washington reached the NFC Championship Game last season for the first time in 30 years, thanks mainly to Daniels' rise to stardom. For coaches, Daniels' arrival was quick and painless. For some of the team's veteran players, the quarterback's star power was shown at the the start of the regular season. Running back Austin Ekeler spoke on the Ross Tucker Football Podcast to detail just how special Daniels was in their Week 1 contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. By DANIEL MATTHEWS, US SENIOR SPORTS WRITER

Published: 01:15 EST, 3 March 2025 | Updated: 09:22 EST, 3 March 2025 Jayden Daniels was walking around midfield when the celebrations ratcheted up a notch. Coolers were lifted into the air and the Gatorade showers began in New Orleans. It was a tantalizing taste of what could have been for the young quarterback. Only a day later, barely a mile up the road, the Philadelphia Eagles dunked Nick Sirianni and toasted one of the finest Super Bowl wins of recent times. Daniels, on the other hand, was confined to the sidelines of the nearby convention center where, on Saturday night of Super Bowl week, he watched some of the world's biggest streamers do battle in...

The Washington Commanders appear to have struck gold with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. The former Heisman winner has guided the Commanders to a record of 6-2 after recording 11 total touchdowns and just two interceptions through the team’s first eight games. However, Washington has not won a playoff game since 2005, which is why Daniels wants the team to handle success the right way. “Go out there and enjoy every moment with each other, but at the end of the day what happened last week doesn’t really matter,” Daniels said in front of the D.C. media Wednesday. Washington is winning.

They are 6-2. Everyone is feeling good. A lot of people weren’t expecting Jayden Daniels to be this good for the Washington Commanders early into his first year in the NFL. This led former NFL star Robert Griffin III to explain how the rookie quarterback gives hope to the franchise. Daniels has emerged as a standout quarterback for the Commanders, capturing attention across the NFL with his impressive performances. Since being selected as the second overall pick, Daniels has showcased his dual-threat capabilities, making him a nightmare for opposing defenses.

His exceptional ability to both pass and run effectively has drawn high praise from analysts and fans alike. Currently, Daniels leads the league with an 80.3% completion rate and ranks fifth in passer rating. He has not only demonstrated accuracy, averaging over 220 passing yards per game, but he has also rushed for significant yardage, contributing three touchdowns on the ground. Under the guidance of offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, Daniels has adapted well to a complex offensive scheme that includes a variety of run-pass options and quick throws. Daniels’ rookie campaign has generated a lot of positive buzz on his end. For his part, Griffin explained his impact and importance to the Commanders, as seen in a video he shared on his official X account.

People Also Search

• How Jayden Daniels convinced the Commanders he'd be a star
• Jayden Daniels convinced the Commanders veteran's he'd be a star
• Commanders QB Jayden Daniels holds teammates accountable
• Washington Commanders star reveals what Jayden Daniels is really like ...
• Commanders free-fall exposes the truth about Jayden Daniels' rookie year
• 'The hype is real' - Washington Commanders
• Commanders RB Highlights When He Knew Jayden Daniels Was Star
• 'Crazy' inside story of how Jayden Daniels transformed Washington
• Jayden Daniels Reveals How He Wants The Team To Handle Success
• Commanders' Jayden Daniels Draws Robert Griffin III's Hope