Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels breathed new life into the organization in 2024. Adam Peters and Dan Quinn put together a solid team with not just the right talent, but the right character qualities to get the players on the same page and buying what they were selling. Daniels took those pieces and launched them to a level no one anticipated.
In leading his team to its best season since 1991, Daniels didn’t just break records, he shattered them. He earned NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year accolades and NFL Moment of the Year for his game-winning Hail Mary pass against the Chicago Bears.
Now that the season is over, Pro Football Focus released its highest-graded quarterbacks for 2024, and Daniels was fifth on the list.
5. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders (90.6)
It’s hard to have a better two-year stretch than what Jayden Daniels put together between his last year of college at LSU and his rookie year with the Commanders. He followed up his Heisman-winning senior season with an Offensive Rookie of the Year performance in which he led Washington to its first NFC Championship game appearance in 33 years. Daniels threw for 4,390 yards, 30 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while adding 1,026 yards and seven scores on the ground through the postseason.
Daniels completed 69% of his passes in 2024 and finished with a 100.1 quarterback rating. He was fifth behind Lamar Jackson (94.9), Joe Burrow (93.9), Josh Allen (91.9), and Justin Herbert (91.2).
His play in 2024 dispelled any concerns anyone may have had about his ability to transition to the professional level. Daniels clearly has what it takes to play in the NFL, and the Commanders will keep him around for as long as they can.