Tag: LSU in NFL

[autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] is expected to earn the starting job with the Washington Commanders as a rookie, but with quite a mixed track record for first-year quarterbacks, it’s hard to know what to expect.

It seems that scouts and executives around the league are quite concerned about how dangerous Daniels could be in this offense led by new coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.

According to ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler, there’s been quite a bit of buzz surrounding Daniels from league scouts and executives who think he has the chance to be dangerous as a professional.

“Jayden Daniels, a lot of buzz league-wide about Daniels already,” Fowler said, per On3. “When I talk to scouts and execs, they bring him up unprompted, like, it’s kind of scary what Washington could be with him. Even though he’s a running quarterback like some others that came through, he’s more polished as a passer than a lot of those guys.”

Fowler said the offensive line is viewed as a limiting factor, but if Washington can find success with that group, other teams think Daniels could be in for a huge rookie season.

“They feel like if they can just get their offensive line right, Daniels could do some major damage in Year 1,” Fowler said.

After winning the Heisman Trophy in his final year at LSU and going second overall in the draft, Washington certainly expects quite a bit from Daniels. But it seems those expectations are beginning to seep outside of the nation’s capital.

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When you’re trying to get a young quarterback up to speed in the NFL, you don’t want them to be so overconfident that they neglect development. At the same time, if you’re relying on a rookie to start, you want them to have trust in their own abilities and the system.

That’s the difficult balancing act that former LSU quarterback and second-overall pick [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] is trying to toe with the Washington Commanders this offseason. But according to coach Dan Quinn, he’s handling it like a veteran.

“He has the humility and the hunger of the young player… but he also has the swagger and calmness of a veteran player,” Quinn told Jim Rome. “So I think those 50+ starts from ASU and LSU, that seems to come about when you see him on the field, in the huddle, that’s where he’s at his best.

“He worked really hard to learn the system… There was just collective learning going on together but he was right there at the front of it.”

“He has the humility and hunger of a young player…but he has the swagger and calmness of a veteran.”

Commanders HC Dan Quinn on rookie QB Jayden Daniels. pic.twitter.com/2GelxzO3GV

— Jim Rome (@jimrome) June 18, 2024

Daniels is competing with experienced quarterback Marcus Mariota, a former second-overall pick himself, for the starting job. Quinn said the two have worked well together, and while he hasn’t named a starter after minicamp, he did say that Daniels was close to earning that role.

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While you never want to rush a quarterback’s development at the next level, especially one that you used the No. 2 pick in the draft on, the Washington Commanders didn’t select Heisman-winning LSU quarterback [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] to sit on the bench.

Competing with veteran Marcus Mariota for the starting job, Daniels seems to have already made a strong impression on those who will be determining the depth chart. Head coach Dan Quinn said he’s been impressed with the vast knowledge Daniels came into the NFL with and the work ethic he’s displayed so far.

“This guy came in with really excellent football characteristics, in terms of command and huddle and vision,” Quinn said, per On3. “What you probably don’t see is the amount of offense and defense that the coaches put in.

“For him, to absolutely nail that and go early and say, ‘I have that. I have it.’ There was a lot of work put in from the studying spot. Not only do the physical traits show up, it’s the work ethic. Through the season, you guys will feel that and see that. This is a guy that really puts it in.”

Quinn said that Daniels’ extensive college starting experience, especially in a pass-happy offense like LSU’s over the last two seasons, has prepared him for the next level.

“Getting out of a bad play, here comes a blitz to this side, get to the check, get to something else,” Quinn said of Daniels’ strengths. “Knowing where to go with the correct read. And at the end of it, it’s just having command, honestly — whether it’s in the huddle or at the line of scrimmage.

“This guy has had a lot of starts and a lot of experience that showed up early when he first started here and it continues right now.”

Quinn hasn’t named Daniels the starter entering the season, though Daniels did reportedly see the bulk of the first-team reps during the final day of mandatory minicamps on Thursday. He praised the progress he’s seen from the young signal-caller during OTAs.

“We wouldn’t have given him those spaces and those times and those (first-team) reps if he hadn’t,” Quinn said. “But it was really clear that he’s put in the work and he was ready to do that.”

Daniels joins a team that has spent quite a while desperately searching for high-level quarterback play. He will hope to be the one who finally ends the third-longest postseason victory drought in the NFL as Washington searches for its first playoff win since 2005.

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