Jayden Daniels named the Washington Commanders starting QB

QB1 is official

This was a foregone conclusion to many people when the Washington Commanders used the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s NFL draft on LSU QB Jayden Daniels. Dan Quinn didn’t want to name the rookie the starter before he’d earned it, and said everyone would know when he was ready. That time is now, and Jayden Daniels will be the starting QB when the team travels to Florida to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1.

Daniels started both preseason games, playing one drive vs the Jets, then two drives on Saturday vs the Miami Dolphins. He won’t play in the third preseason game when the Commanders host the New England Patriots Sunday night His competition was another former No. 2 overall pick, Marcus Mariota. The veteran didn’t play this week due to a groin injury, but is expected to get the start in the preseason finale.

Jayden Daniels joins a team that has been desperate for a franchise quarterback for decades, and has gone through dozens of QBs that have started at least one game for Washington. He won the Heisman Trophy following his final season at LSU, and was one of the most improved players in college football last season.

He joins a franchise that is in the process of being completely transformed from the dark ages under former owner Dan Snyder. The ownership group led by managing partner Josh Harris bought the team last July, and started purging the payroll of previous mistakes. Adam Peters was hired as the new GM, and Dan Quinn was named the next head coach of the team. Daniels has been working under new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury as the team works to fix one of the most anemic offenses in the NFL.