Nfl Veteran S Strong Message For Jayden Daniels To Avoid Cj Stroud S

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Nov 17, 2025, 9:06 AM

nfl veteran s strong message for jayden daniels to avoid cj stroud s

“In order to not have that slump like we saw with C.J. Stroud, we’re gonna work on some of those little things.” An NFL analyst, and former linebacker, is dropping truth bombs like confetti at a victory parade, to Jayden Daniels. Let’s rewind. The Washington Commanders just pulled off a Hollywood-level glow-up, finishing 12–5 in 2024—their first winning season since NSYNC was still a thing (2005, if you’re counting, thanks Deadpool). Rookie QB Jayden Daniels didn’t just show up; he rewrote the playbook, snagging NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, torching defenses for 3,568 passing yards, 25 TDs, and a rookie QB-record 891 rushing yards. Think Lamar Jackson meets Remember the Titans’ Sunshine—except Daniels actually likes getting hit.

But as the Commanders’ front office waves goodbye to exec Marty Hurney (more on that later), NFL vet Sam Acho is side-eyeing Daniels’ future harder than The Office’s Jim Halpert. Let’s get this straight: Daniels isn’t your average rookie. The 23-year-old Heisman winner dragged the Commanders from a 4-13 dumpster fire to NFC Championship contenders, earning a Pro Bowl nod and a fully guaranteed $37.75M contract. But here’s the kicker: C.J. Stroud, last year’s golden boy, had a more reserved Year 2. After a dazzling 4,108-yard rookie season, Stroud’s 2024 stats—3,727 yards, 20 TDs, 12 INTs—read a bit muted.

His tapes from the two seasons show a Succession-like plot twist, two buds who grew together but went down different paths. The latter heading straight down Sack-ville. Injuries, a leaky O-line, and defenses cracking his code turned his encore into a bit of a blooper reel. Enter Sam Acho, the NFL’s resident hype-man/philosopher. On NFL Live, he broke it down like a TED Talk: “There’s two pieces. One piece is, yes, you add another weapon.

We saw that the Texans actually went and got like Stephane Big, so it didn’t work out. But the bigger piece, and I’ll reiterate the point, is that you have to self-scout.” Translation? Daniels can’t coast on “being excellent.” Acho wants him to channel his inner Moneyball nerd: study his own film, fix tendencies (cough scrambling like Forrest Gump), and prep for defenses scheming to “spy” his... “Usually, around halfway through the season or maybe it’s a bye week, teams won’t go and watch other teams. They’ll go and watch their own film and see what are the tendencies that we have that we don’t think other people know about that we wanna get ahead of.” If you want to put Jayden Daniels’ spectacular rookie season with the Washington Commanders into context, there’s probably nobody better to ask than C.J.

Stroud. The Houston Texans quarterback was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year after taking his team from 2-14 to the playoffs last season. As impressive as his debut campaign was, Stroud believes Daniels has been even better and he plans to back the Commanders in the NFC Championship Game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field... Stroud told reporters he thinks Daniels has “had the best rookie year of all-time,” per Yahoo Sports. There was also praise from one California native to another, as Stroud referenced Daniels’ origins in San Bernadino, before confirming, “I don’t root for many other teams, but I’m rooting for my boy. I’m rooting for the Commanders.”

Daniels has been lavished with praise from all quarters for what he’s done since being selected second overall in the 2024 draft. Yet, he’s likely to value the endorsement from fellow No. 2 pick Stroud above all else, since the Texans starter knows what it takes to immediately dominate the pro game. Stroud provided a new template for rookie quarterbacks taken at the top end of a draft. He did it by transforming the Texans from losers to contenders in just a single season. The Washington Commanders appear to have their franchise quarterback with rookie Jayden Daniels coming into his own this season.

Entering Week 6’s matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, Daniels has thrown for over 1,000 yards and has eight total touchdowns while completing a whopping 77.1% of his passes. The LSU product has seemingly revitalized the Commanders’ organization in Year 1, and he has a surprisingly simple motivational tactic keeping him going this season. During the Ravens-Commanders game on Sunday, CBS reporter Tracy Wolfson revealed that Daniels has Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud’s stats on his phone as motivation. “Daniels actually has Stroud’s rookie season stats—4,108 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, five interceptions—written on his phone,” Wolfson said. “He says it's a personal challenge to beat them.”

Jayden Daniels keeps C.J. Stroud's rookie stats handy on his phone."He says it's a personal challenge to beat them." - @tracywolfson pic.twitter.com/hf4vugMDkY Jayden Daniels, the rookie quarterback for the Washington Commanders, has made a remarkable impression during the 2024 season. With his outstanding performances, he not only helped the team overcome a crisis but also became one of the most talked-about young players in the NFL. Daniels’ rapid development has sparked high expectations for his future in the league, drawing attention from fans, analysts, and former players alike. In his debut season, Jayden Daniels recorded 3,568 passing yards and 25 touchdowns.

He also set a rookie record with 891 rushing yards, a figure that rivals some of the top players in the league. These accomplishments earned him the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award, highlighting his dual-threat capabilities. His combination of passing and rushing abilities makes Daniels a versatile player who keeps opposing defences on high alert, making him an exciting prospect for the Commanders. The Washington Commanders recently made a major leadership change by firing General Manager Marty Hurney. This marks a significant turning point in the team’s history, especially after a successful season with a 12-5 record. Hurney’s departure has created a new atmosphere within the Commanders’ organization, one that Jayden Daniels will need to adapt to as he navigates the evolving team dynamics.

This leadership shift is crucial, as it could influence not only the direction of the franchise but also Daniels’ growth as a quarterback. A supportive management team is vital for nurturing young talent, and this change may bring new opportunities for Daniels to thrive. As he adjusts to the new regime, his ability to remain focused on improving his game will be essential. Former NFL player Sam Acho issued a warning to Jayden Daniels about the challenges he might face in his second season. According to Acho, to avoid a sophomore slump similar to that of CJ Stroud—who had an impressive rookie year but struggled in his second season—Daniels must stay focused and continue developing his skills. “To avoid the decline we saw with CJ Stroud, we need to address some of those little things,” Acho emphasized.

Jayden Daniels started his NFL career with a bang, being named Offensive Rookie of the Year and leading the Washington Commanders to the NFC Championship Game. He started all 17 games, posting a 12-5 record, but will he go through a sophomore slump? Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud had a similar start in his rookie season but took a big step backward in Year 2. ESPN’s Sam Acho recently explained how Washington can prevent the same thing from happening to Daniels. Daniels was the No.

2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and immediately shook up the NFC East. Washington went from 4-13 in 2023 to 12 wins and a Wild Card berth in Daniels’ first season, with the rookie throwing for 3,568 yards, 25 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. He proved his dual-threat ability, adding 891 rushing yards and six scores on the ground, and ranked No. 9 in PFSN’s QB+ metric. Defenses didn’t know how to handle the rookie, and Washington rode the wave to the NFC Championship Game. Stroud was also named Offensive Rookie of the Year after his first season leading the Texans to an AFC South title and the Divisional Round of the playoffs.

But what the Commanders and Daniels want to avoid is a drop-off similar to Stroud’s in Year 2. The Washington Commanders have etched their name in NFL history with a commanding 34-13 victory over the Cleveland Browns. This win not only showcased their offensive prowess but also marked a significant milestone in the Super Bowl era. The Commanders became the first team to surpass 150 points in their initial five games with a rookie quarterback at the helm. At the center of this achievement stands Jayden Daniels, a rookie signal-caller who has been turning heads and shattering records. C.J.

Stroud, last year’s Offensive Rookie of The Year, has taken notice of Daniels’ impressive performances in Washington. Adulation and praise have been in plentiful supply for Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels during a rookie campaign that will live long in the memory. But this one probably meant more than most. C.J. Stroud and Daniels grew up together. They were star high school quarterbacks in California and developed a close bond that stands to this day.

They both took college football by storm and have done the same in a professional environment. There is mutual respect and admiration that typically stands the test of time. There is nobody more thrilled about Daniels' immediate impact than Stroud. The No. 2 pick in 2023 who had a phenomenal rookie campaign last time out beamed with pride when speaking about his friend. He stated the impact this will make on the future generation where they grew up and is going to be rooting for Washington the rest of the way.

This depicted Daniels' journey perfectly. He had to fight for everything that came his way. Nothing was given, everything was earned. And when the time came to take that next step and emerge as an NFL superstar, he rose to the challenge. Daniels took the Commanders from a bottom-feeding laughingstock to Super Bowl contention in a few short months. There are other factors in play, but he instilled the belief that anything is possible when he's on the field.

There has been an apparent consensus opinion of which quarterback had been the best in the last two NFL Draft classes, with Bryce Young and Caleb Williams both going first overall. But so far, it's the player taken with the subsequent pick who has made all the early impressions. In last year's draft, the Houston Texans selected CJ Stroud second overall, going on to put in a sensational rookie season and immediately turning the franchise's fortunes around - taking them to the playoffs... Stroud had even been in the MVP conversation as a rookie. And through the first four games, the Washington Commanders' quarterback Jayden Daniels has been just as impressive as Stroud had with highlight plays, consistent play, and leading the team to victories. Daniels was the winner for Offensive Rookie of the Month in September, outplaying both rookie starting quarterbacks Williams and Bo Nix.

Nfl Veteran S Strong Message For Jayden Daniels To Avoid Cj Stroud S

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