Marcus Mariota has walked in Jayden Daniels’ shoes.
Mariota was brought to Washington because, as a veteran, he has a lot of experience to offer to Daniels.
The former Oregon Duck was drafted second overall in the 2015 NFL draft, just as Jayden Daniels was drafted second overall in this last 2024 draft.
Next week, Mariota will turn 31 (October 30), so he has been around the block a few times in the NFL. Having Mariota in Daniels’ ear each day of practice was a valuable opportunity for Daniels to learn all he could.
Mariota went to a Tennessee Titans team and started 12 games in his rookie season. However, the Titans only went 3-9 in those 12 games. On the other hand, Daniels is the beneficiary of a GM like Adam Peters, who knew how to overhaul a roster with 30+ new men on the team in one season. So Washington is 5-2 going into Sunday’s game against the Bears.
Mariota finished below .500 in his five years with the Titans (29-32). He then endured two tough years with the Raiders, during which time he never made a start.
In 2022, the Falcons were 5-8 in his 13 starts; something really blew up there, and Mariota was gone, not even finishing the season. It did not look good at all for Mariota going forward.
However, his season with the Eagles (2023) apparently went well in the locker room, and former Eagles coaches Brian Johnson and Mariota both came to Washington this offseason.
Kliff Kingsbury (Commanders OC) said this week he “saw his preparation, I saw how he operated in the spring…I think he embraced the moment. He’s only 30 and is still a tremendous talent.”
Then came last Sunday. Jayden unexpectedly was out with a rib injury, and Mariota was thrown into the fire. Who could have seen Mariota completing 18 of 23 for 205 yards, two touchdowns, zero interceptions and a very impressive 8.9 yards per passing attempt.
Do not adjust your screen. It is 2024 and Marcus Mariota just threw a TD to Zach Ertz. pic.twitter.com/MfvVypWX5U
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) October 20, 2024
This week, Kingsbury remained upbeat. “I think his best football is still ahead of him, and I’ve told him.”
Daniels says Mariota has been very positive for him. In addition, we see Mariota being encouraged and perhaps living out that encouragement he has received from Kingsbury.
Perhaps the Commanders will be the better place for Mariota.