Over the last calendar year, the Washington Commanders have left behind one era and entered another one.
It started when the controversial Daniel Snyder sold them to a group led by billionaire investor Josh Harris, and now they have a potential franchise quarterback in Jayden Daniels.
Daniels was drafted out of Louisiana State University with the No. 2 pick in April’s draft.
In most other years, he likely would’ve been a no-brainer No. 1 pick, and the Commanders should be thankful that the University of Southern California’s Caleb Williams was also in this year’s class so that they could nab Daniels.
During offseason workouts, Daniels has reportedly been very impressive. Offensive tackle Andrew Wylie had some very complimentary things to say about the incoming rookie.
“That dude can sling it, man. Very talented guy back there. Makes it look easy too…He’s always smiling,” Wylie said, per JP Finlay.
Last season, Daniels had a whale of a season for the Tigers, throwing for 3,812 yards and 40 touchdowns while running for 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns. That earned him a slew of individual awards, including the SEC Offensive Player of the Year Award, the Walter Camp Award, the Manning Award and, of course, the Heisman Trophy.
He had previously spent three seasons at Arizona State University from 2019 to 2021, but he didn’t truly blossom until heading to Louisiana State University for the 2022 campaign.
In the nation’s capital, Daniels will be tasked with turning around a Commanders franchise that had once been one of the NFL’s flagship franchises in the 1980s and early 1990s but has been a laughingstock ever since.
Since 1999, they have made the playoffs just five times and won only one postseason game.
Unlike most top-rated quarterbacks, Daniels isn’t joining a team that is completely devoid of skill players. He will have Terry McLaurin, one of the league’s more underrated wide receivers, by his side, as well as dual-threat running back Austin Ekeler.
Ekeler scored 38 touchdowns from scrimmage in 2021 and 2022 combined, and at age 29, he should have something left in his tank.
A playoff appearance this coming season seems very unlikely for a Commanders squad that went 4-13 last year. But at least now there should be a real light at the end of the tunnel, as long as Jayden Daniels proves to be worthy of at least a good amount of the hype surrounding him.
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