Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels did everything he was supposed to do in his first preseason start against the New York Jets. He played one series, didn’t take a sack or turn the ball over, made a big play with his arms, and used his legs to score a touchdown.
Things could not have gone any better for the No. 2 overall pick.
However, upon further inspection of Daniels’ big 42-yard completion to wide receiver Dyami Brown, the rookie passer showed another special trait.
Multiple Washington players, including right guard Sam Cosmi and tight end Zach Ertz, said on the completion to Brown, the Commanders were supposed to run another play on third-and-6. Daniels wasn’t having that and threw a dime for Brown to put Washington deep into New York territory.
Here’s what Cosmi said on the local broadcast during the game via Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post.
Commanders G Sam Cosmi on the local game broadcast, talking about Jayden Daniels and his 42-yard completion to Dyami Brown: pic.twitter.com/yEUfRg9HGO
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) August 10, 2024
“I think we got a dude back there.” Big words from Cosmi. Washington coaches and players have praised Daniels non-stop since his arrival in April, not only for his ability on the field but his humble nature in playing the game’s most important position.
While the players loved the audible, what did head coach Dan Quinn think?
“I thought of ‘Top Gun,'” Quinn said courtesy of Jhabvala. “‘Do I have permission to buzz the tower?’ ‘No, Ghostrider, the pattern is full.’ I think on that one, he wanted to ask for forgiveness and not permission and throw an absolute dime over the top to Dyami to go. It was a really cool play. I think it probably illustrates for him the awareness and checks and things that go into it.”
It doesn’t sound like Quinn plans to punish Daniels for being ahead of the game. Rookie quarterbacks generally aren’t close to being able to audible early in their careers. Everyone keeps saying Daniels is different. That play displayed why Daniels is different, not only because of the accurate throw but also the awareness to check into another play he trusted — and believed he would make.
The Commanders may have found themselves a dude.