Daily Slop – 9 May 2024: Jayden Daniels not necessarily ‘all in’ for Week 1 start

A collection of articles, podcasts & tweets from around the web to keep you in touch with the Commanders, the NFC East and the NFL in general

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Articles

NFL.com

Commanders rookie QB Jayden Daniels on starting Week 1: ‘That’s above me’

As with most top-five draft picks, the Heisman Trophy winner is expected to start from the jump of his career, but Daniels told Keyshawn Johnson on the All Facts No Brakes podcast that he’s not worried about that minor detail.

“Do I anticipate (starting Week 1)? I mean, I’m confident in my abilities, but that’s a decision that they’ve got to make,” he said. “That’s above me.”

When pushed by Johnson, Daniels added: “From what I heard, they said whenever I’m ready, I’m ready. So whenever I feel like I’m ready, I’m ready.

“They didn’t tell me, ‘Oh, you’ve got to start Week 1.’ They just said, ‘Whenever you’re ready, you’re ready. Whenever you feel ready, we feel you’re ready, we’re gonna throw you out there.’”

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The Athletic (paywall)

Washington Commanders questions: Roster stock watch, UDFA moves, scouting department changes

The Washington Commanders’ on-field offseason sessions begin Friday to start the three-day rookie minicamp headlined by first-round quarterback Jayden Daniels and many questions about what comes next.

Let’s tackle eight topics, some of which were overlooked over the past few weeks but are central to the Commanders’ future.

Reminder: Following rookie camp, the offseason program continues with veterans participating in three three-day voluntary OTA sessions followed by a mandatory minicamp June 11-13 and then roughly six weeks off until training camp.

Roster/role stock up

The strength of Chris Rodriguez Jr.’s grip on the third running back spot behind Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler moved closer to Adrian Peterson territory after Washington passed on selecting another one. The 223-pound power back with 4.52 40-speed is the clear early-down backup to Robinson, whether that means 5-10 touches from scrimmage per game or a lower figure.

However, if the Commanders eye Rodriguez as part of what looks like a trend of teams seeking bigger-bodied kick returners, there is room for a more significant role. New rules prevent players from moving until a returner touches the ball or the ball hits the ground, but they also create a crowded space since the kicking team (sans the kicker) will line up at the receiving team’s 40-yard line.

Roster/role stock down

Mathis, a second-round pick in 2022 as a Daron Payne free-agent hedge, missed 23 of 34 games due to injuries and was undistinguished when available. Now second-round pick Johnny Newton, already praised by Adam Peters and others as a draft steal, joins the rotation. This is the definition of getting drafted over.

Maybe not as cut and dried for Brown, a 2021 third-round pick with 29 receptions in three seasons. Two of his three career touchdowns came in one game. Brown offers a different player profile than two acquisitions made by the new regime, 5-foot-8 free-agent signing Olamide Zaccheaus and third-round slot threat Luke McCaffrey. Washington’s previous staff made Brown available at the 2023 trade deadline, multiple league sources told The Athletic then.

Money, money, money

Right guard Sam Cosmi is a prominent building block following a breakthrough 2023 campaign. The 2021 second-round pick is also entering the final year of his rookie contract ($3.7 million salary). With Washington’s $43.4 million in salary-cap space, per Over the Cap, and interest going both ways, the only question is whether the sides find common ground. Only nine right guards enter 2024 with annual salaries averaging at least $9 million.

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Commanders.com

Five things to know about Dominique Hampton

He’s the most utilized player in Washington history.

The University of Washington football program has been around for 132 years with hundreds of quality players passing through the locker room.

None of them have appeared in more games than Hampton.

Hampton, who joined the Huskies out of Glendale, Arizona, spent six years in Washington, appearing in 57 games along the way. After playing four games during his freshman season, he was a permanent fixture for the Huskies’ defense, playing 11 of 13 games in 2019 and all four games of the COVID-shortened 2020 season.

Hampton’s responsibility increased during the 2021 campaign. He got his first start against Stanford and started in 26 of his final 27 games.

There were a couple of factors in play as it became possible that Hampton would break the school record, which was held at the time by kicker Peyton Henry with 56 games. First, Washington needed to make the College Football Playoff. Then, they would need to make it past their opponent to play in the national championship game.

Sure enough, Washington accomplished both, and Hampton beat out his former teammate by one game while playing a position that demands much more physical contact.

“That’s quite a compliment,” Hampton said last year via Sports Illustrated. “You know, it’s football and you get dinged up a little bit, but we have a great medical staff that’s able to back me every day and get me back on the field, doing what I love.”

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Commanders.com

11 things to know about Washington’s 11 UDFAs

3. Austin Jones can do it all.

Modern running backs need to be able to be as much of a threat in the passing game as they are on the ground. Jones has both skill sets in ample supply.

Jones had 3,238 total yards and 27 touchdowns in five years with the Cardinal and USC, but it looked like he hit his stride with the Trojans. He set career-highs in rushing yards (705) and receiving yards (972) in 2022, contributing to him averaging six yards per touch during his final two seasons.

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Podcasts & videos

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Photos

Commanders.com

PHOTOS | The best of Dominique Hampton

Check out the top photos of new Washington Commanders safety Dominique Hampton.

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All a’Twitter

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