Why Jayden Daniels Can Follow Mvp Path And Defy The Sophomore Slump

Jayden Daniels heads into the 2025 season coming off an incredible rookie campaign. In his first season, Daniels led the Washington Commanders to the NFC championship game for the first time in decades, excelled in the clutch by throwing multiple game-winning touchdown passes, and set the rookie... He proved unfazed by the moment, whether it was throwing a Hail Mary to defeat the Chicago Bears or taking down the No. 1 seeded Detroit Lions in the postseason. Daniels proved he can succeed in the NFL, but also set a high bar for himself going forward. Daniels isn't just expected to replicate what he accomplished his rookie season, but to build off that near unprecedented success for a rookie.

That can be challenging, especially when a number of great rookies deal with a sophomore slump after their first NFL season. The positive for Daniels is he doesn't appear to get affected by outside pressure easily. On top of this, Daniels is working to combat facing a slump in his second year in the pros, including by eliminating some of his bad tendencies as a quarterback. “I’m sitting down and watching film and trying to eliminate some tendencies, as much as possible,” Daniels told Yahoo Sports's Jori Epstein. “Talking to the coaching staff on areas that they feel like I need to improve on and having conversations so we can all hit at full speed.” Fortunately for Daniels, he seems to be surrounded by a strong coaching staff on the Commanders that were key to helping him thrive as a rookie.

Ahead of his rookie season, the Commanders helped him become elite at reading and processing defenses by using virtual reality technology. Now, Washington can turn the focus to getting rid of his tendencies and addressing any other key areas he can improve, which should only make him harder to defend. When the Washington Commanders used the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on Jayden Daniels, even they couldn’t have expected what a memorable season the rookie quarterback was going to have. During last year’s offseason, PFF’s Nick Akridge truly recognized Daniels’ ability as he said, “Daniels fits the mold of a modern-day quarterback who can take any run to the house while also delivering accurate... To put it simply, by the end of the season, there were no doubts about the potential and the ability of Jayden Daniels. He earned a 91.3 overall PFF grade, second only to Russell Wilson’s 2012 rookie mark.

He led all quarterbacks in PFF wins above replacement at 2.64, outpacing established stars like Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes, and younger ones like C.J. Stroud. His historic rushing (891 yards) surpassed RGIII‘s rookie record. Furthermore, he also shone as a leader, taking the Commanders to their first NFC Championship appearance since 1991, and earned both Offensive Rookie of the Year and Pro Bowl honors. So it’s safe to say that for the rookie quarterbacks looking to steal the show in their first season, Daniels has established a rather difficult standard to cross; he has rewritten the concept of... Heading into this season, PFF’s John Kosko, in recent analysis of second-year QBs, didn’t hesitate to draw parallels between Daniels to one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in recent memory, as he gave the...

Kosko said, “Daniels engineered arguably the best rookie season of all time. His 91.3 PFF overall grade ranks second among all rookie passers in the PFF era (since 2006), and he led his team to the brink of a Super Bowl appearance. Daniels’ ability to consistently generate positive plays is an aspect of Lamar Jackson’s game that makes him incredibly difficult to defend. Factor in the elite athleticism that both bring to the table, and the idea of Daniels as a future MVP is not out of the question.” That’s a bold comparison between Daniels and Jackson, not only highlighting their similar traits but holding the Commanders’ prospect up as a potential MVP when he’s still in Year Two. And even his “floor” expectation is lofty.

Kosko projected Daniels’ low-end performance to resemble Kyler Murray, noting that the Californian’s playmaking and elusive running ability make him, and his offense, consistently dangerous: “With how great his rookie season was, it’s hard... Murray’s low end is due to injuries; when healthy, he has been a game-changing player. Expect defensive coordinators to adjust to a few things Daniels does well, but his ability to extend plays with his legs will be a problem for defenses for the foreseeable future.” Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels orchestrated one of the best rookie campaigns in NFL history last season. Daniels led the team from the depths of their division all the way to the NFC Championship Game. Already, Daniels is generating the buzz of a top 10 quarterback and some are ready to anoint him among the league's best.

It's a short sample size certainly but it is difficult to argue with the results he put out in year one. However, many great players that have come before him have felt the same highs before a slide in their second season. Dak Prescott and Saquon Barkley, both faces of Washington's most staunch NFC East rivals, can share their own experiences with regression, or "sophomore slump." Daniels wants to avoid that entirely and is taking the steps to ensure that he not only continues his success from year one, but builds upon it to become a better player. "I'm sitting down and watching film and trying to eliminate some tendencies, as much as possible," he explained to Yahoo Sports. "Talking to the coaching staff on areas that they feel like I need to improve on and having conversations so we can all hit at full speed."

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 Commanders are doing their job to avoid the “sophomore slump”. The common belief is that when a quarterback plays well during his first NFL season, he will most of the time fall back into the league's fold. As a result, there is always talk of this “sophomore slump” for young NFL quarterbacks. How does this apply to the Commanders’ Jayden Daniels? Well, one thing overlooked in these discussions is the return of Commanders’ offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.

Kingsbury was the perfect supervisor for the former LSU Heisman Trophy winner. His creativity, variety, and penchant for having Daniels get rid of the ball early paid off big time. When Daniels was out two games, the offense did not seem to miss a beat, as veteran Marcus Mariota played quite well in wins against the Panthers and Cowboys. Despite the fact that the Commanders' running game was really hurting down the stretch, Kingsbury knew enough to keep the Commanders' offense moving the ball in playoff wins at Tampa Bay and Detroit. Jayden Daniels has quickly risen as one of the NFL’s most intriguing young stars and is now being discussed as a potential MVP contender for the 2025 season. Following an impressive rookie campaign with the Washington Commanders, Daniels has established himself as a force to be reckoned with in the league.

Daniels’ first year in the NFL saw him lead the Commanders to a 12-win season and two playoff victories, earning him the Offensive Rookie of the Year title. His poise and ability to perform under pressure have helped position him as a dark horse MVP candidate. With an upgraded roster, including the additions of Deebo Samuel and Laremy Tunsil, Daniels is poised to build on his early success. Analysts have highlighted Daniels’ potential to ascend to the top tier of quarterbacks, especially with the stability he now enjoys in Washington’s offensive system. His combination of athleticism, accuracy, and leadership sets him apart from many of his peers. If the Commanders make another deep playoff run, Daniels’ MVP case could gain significant traction.

The MVP race remains competitive, with established stars like Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Lamar Jackson dominating the conversation. However, Daniels’ youthful energy and rapid development make him a compelling candidate to challenge the league’s elite. His ability to adapt and improve will be crucial in keeping pace with the seasoned veterans. Daniels has emerged as one of the leading candidates to win MVP in the upcoming season. This is detailed more in an analysis by Judy Battista for the league’s official website. The dreaded sophomore slump has bitten many a second-year star.

Last season, Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud struggled through Year 2. In recent seasons, other OROY winners have similarly taken a step back. Garrett Wilson, Ja'Marr Chase, Saquon Barkley and Dak Prescott, to name a few, each earned a statistical regression in their second seasons. It's a list that Washington Commanders QB and reigning OROY Jayden Daniels is out to stay off. "I'm sitting down and watching film and trying to eliminate some tendencies, as much as possible," Daniels told Jori Epstein of Yahoo Sports this week.

"Talking to the coaching staff on areas that they feel like I need to improve on and having conversations so we can all hit at full speed." In his first year, Daniels flipped the script for a franchise penciled in at the bottom of the division. Statistically, he finished with a 69% completion rate, 3,568 passing yards, a 25-9 touchdown-to-interception ratio and a 100.1 passer rating. The dual threat also earned 891 rushing yards, setting a rookie record for a QB, and six rushing scores. Jayden Daniels had a sensational rookie season when he unexpectedly led the Washington Commanders to a playoff berth and a trip to the NFC Championship Game, and fans are on cloud nine as far... However, it is entirely possible that Daniels will have a sophomore slump, just as C.J.

Stroud did for the Houston Texans, especially now that opposing defensive coordinators will have a full season’s worth of video to use to prepare to play against him. One ESPN analyst said that self-analysis will be the key for Daniels to avoid that slump and build on what he did as a rookie. “For me, it’s gotta be up to Jayden Daniels, it’s gotta be up to (offensive coordinator) Kliff Kingsbury and the entire coaching staff to say, ‘Hey Jayden, I understand how excellent we were, but... Stroud, we’re gonna work on some of those little things,'” Sam Acho said, via NFL on ESPN. "In order to not have that slump like we saw with C.J. Stroud, we're gonna work on some of those little things."@TheSamAcho on the Commanders preventing a Jayden Daniels sophomore slump 👀 pic.twitter.com/q4KEZalMVm

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