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Washington Commanders Jayden Daniels Named No 1 In Ranking With New

Bonisiwe Shabane
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washington commanders jayden daniels named no 1 in ranking with new

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels had an outstanding collegiate career, headlined by his final two seasons with the LSU Tigers. While with the Tigers, he developed a rapport with Malik Nabers, who wound up being the No. 6 overall pick by the New York Giants in the 2024 NFL Draft. Daniels and Nabers were named as the best teammates in the last 10 drafts. READ MORE: Adam Peters sees ‘monster’ potential in former Jets star for Commanders "In 2022, Jayden Daniels transferred from Arizona State to LSU, and this quarterback-receiver pair built an immediate connection on the field," Moton writes.

To stream WUSA9 on your phone, you need the WUSA9 app. Example video title will go here for this video Example video title will go here for this video ASHBURN, Va. — As the NFL moves closer and closer to unveiling who the top player entering the 2025 season is, Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels was unveiled as the No. 21-ranked player on Friday, making his debut on the top 100 list, which is voted on by the players themselves.

The recognition by his peers is a clear reflection of just how impressive Daniels’ rookie season was, and how much others believe it was a sign of things to come. If early 2025 is any indication, Daniels’ ranking could be even higher next year, as Commanders head coach Dan Quinn sees his quarterback hitting another level of development in year two. “Now you see other levels of making others better,” he says of Daniels. “‘This is what I saw, this is the correct spot, a change of a protection.’ So, now he's able to help develop others and help them fulfill what they can be.” The NFL’s annual Top 100 list has become a measuring stick for players across the league, as the rankings come directly from votes by their peers. This year, Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels made a dramatic entry, securing the No.

21 spot. The recognition cements his place among the NFL’s most respected players and signals just how impactful his debut season was. Daniels took the league by storm with his ability to extend plays, attack defenses with both his arm and legs, and elevate an offense that needed a new identity. Teammates praised his composure, opponents marveled at his dual-threat skills, and fans embraced him as the centerpiece of Washington’s future. Finishing 21st on the list places him in elite company and highlights how quickly he has earned credibility. Players who voted made it clear that Daniels was not just a promising “Rookie of the Year’ last season, but an immediate second-year player who presents a problem for defenses.

His presence in the Top 100 so early in his career suggests the league sees him not only as a rising star but also as someone who already ranks among the NFL’s most dangerous... Daniels’ ranking also represents a major milestone for the Commanders. Washington has searched for stability at quarterback for years, and Daniels has brought hope to a franchise that needed it. His No. 21 ranking validates the front office’s decision to draft him and reinforces the belief that he can carry the Commanders into a new era. Head coach Dan Quinn and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury have both stressed that Daniels’ growth is only beginning.

The quarterback has shown a rare mix of leadership, confidence, and work ethic that complements his natural talent. Landing this high on the Top 100 provides not just recognition but also added motivation for Daniels to continue building on his strong foundation. Led by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, the Washington Commanders played in the NFC Championship game in 2024. Big things were expected in 2025, but injuries had other ideas. Now 3-6, the Commanders are on the outside looking in on the NFC playoff picture, and it's been a lost season for Daniels due to injuries, including a dislocated elbow last week. The biggest storyline of Washington's offseason was wide receiver Terry McLaurin's contract standoff.

While McLaurin and the Commanders eventually settled on a three-year extension two weeks before the season opener, it took him missing OTAs, training camp and the preseason. Unsurprisingly, McLaurin injured his quad in Week 3, returned in Week 8, and will be out for his sixth game on Sunday when Washington hosts the Detroit Lions. It's been that type of season for the Commanders. And Washington's lack of depth at wide receiver is more glaring than ever. While we are still months away from the 2026 NFL draft, the Commanders look like a contender for a top-10 pick, which could land them one of the draft's top receiver prospects. In a new mock draft for The Athletic, Nick Baumgardner has Washington selecting Arizona State wideout Jordyn Tyson with the No.

9 overall pick. The Commanders could go with an edge in Round 1, but Jayden Daniels still needs a big-time, future No. 1 receiver who can help set a tone for the rest of the offense. And Tyson is the most complete WR in this draft. He blocks, and wins both in the air and underneath. Tyson does everything — and does it well.

What type of season will Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels have in 2025? The reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year broke numerous records in 2024 and led the Commanders to their best season in 33 years. To say it was a surprise would be an understatement. The 2024 season was supposed to be the first year of a "recalibration," as head coach Dan Quinn called it. Washington had other plans, winning 12 games and making it to the NFC Championship game. One of this offseason's most popular topics was a potential sophomore slump for Daniels.

C.J. Stroud took a step back in 2024 after an impressive rookie season, so many believe it's logical that Daniels will do the same. While it could happen, it also seems unfair. Assuming Daniels will suffer any sort of regression doesn't take into account how special Daniels is. Yes, he possesses elite talent, but football is priority No. 1 for him.

He's not about commercials. It's about the team — not him. After one season, some believe Daniels is already a top-five NFL quarterback. Nick Shook of NFL.com recently ranked all 32 projected starting quarterbacks ahead of Week 1, dividing them into tiers. Shook ranked Daniels No. 5 and in Tier 1.

It might seem preposterous to rank a second-year player in Tier 1, but I'm doing so with confidence and a season's worth of proof to back it. Jayden Daniels powered a remarkable turnaround in Washington last season, showing off the arm and running talents that helped him win the Heisman Trophy in 2023. He'll be expected to build on that fantastic debut in 2025. Hopefully, he doesn't experience the same struggles C.J. Stroud endured in his second season. When it comes to the best up-and-coming talent in the NFL right now, Jayden Daniels deserves a mention.

Following an impressive rookie campaign, the Washington Commanders QB finds himself with a favorable ranking among his counterparts in the league. It did not take long for Daniels to show the Commanders they made the right decision by drafting him No. 2 overall. His combination of speed and throwing ability had an immediate impact on the offense, resulting in them winning 12 games and securing a postseason berth. Daniels then showed he wasn't scared of the big stage, leading Washington all the way to the NFC Championship game. Ahead of the 2025 season, the people at FanDuel Sportsbook ranked the top second and third-year quarterbacks in the NFL.

Daniels was named the best standout from this group, beating out players such as CJ Stroud, Caleb Williams, and JJ McCarthy. Read more: Former Washington QB Utters Vote of Confidence for Jayden Daniels Looking around at the other young QBs in the NFL, Stroud is the only player with a real case to dethrone Daniels. Ironically enough, these two quarterbacks are the last two winners of Offensive Rookie of the Year. Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels will turn 25 this December, giving him just one more year after 2025 to be ranked among the NFL’s ‘young quarterbacks.’ It just so happens that his last year of eligibility on a list of quarterbacks 25 years old and under also coincides with the last season he has to play before he and the...

Given his one year of play so far and the early signs of his second-year potential, that deal is likely to be a big one. That rookie performance as a 23-year-old is exactly the catalyst that provides future outlooks like his in Washington, and puts him at the top of Sports Illustrated’s quarterbacks under 25 list for 2025. “Isn't it obvious?” SI.com writer Mike Kadlick asks. “Jayden Daniels is already a bona fide superstar at just 24 years old. The 2024 No. 2 pick turned the Commanders from a 4-13 team to a 12-5 one in just a single offseason, throwing for 3,500+ yards and 25 touchdowns while rushing for six more.

He then led Washington on an impressive playoff run before an NFC championship game to their division rival Eagles.” While Daniels was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, it didn’t take him long to surpass the No. 1 overall pick, Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams. A primetime Hail Mary win over Williams’ Bears, with a rib injury suffered the week prior, only cemented that, regardless of the other guy’s future, the Commanders got the right guy for their franchise.

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