The last time the Washington Commanders selected a quarterback at No. 2 overall in the NFL draft, he would win the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award.
That was Robert Griffin III in 2012. Washington general manager Adam Peters hopes the comparisons end there.
Griffin had a phenomenal rookie season and never reached those heights again for multiple reasons. Injuries, ego, and an inability to play quarterback from the pocket doomed Griffin’s NFL career.
Last week, the Commanders used the No. 2 overall pick on LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels. Like Griffin, Daniels is a Heisman Trophy winner and an electric dual-threat quarterback. However, Daniels is a far more advanced passer than Griffin.
So, while Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams is a popular pick for the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award in 2024, don’t count out on Daniels. In the SEC last season, Daniels completed 72% of his passes for over 3,800 yards and 40 touchdowns with only four interceptions. He also rushed for over 1,000 yards.
While it would be difficult to reach similar numbers as a rookie with the Commanders, there are reasons for optimism.
So, what are the odds of Daniels winning the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award? According to BetMGM, Daniels is at +650, behind Williams and Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. to win the award.
Here’s a look at the top contenders:
- Caleb Williams: +200
- Marvin Harrison Jr: +600
- Jayden Daniels: +650
- J.J. McCarthy: +850
- Malik Nabers: +800
- Xavier Worthy: +1600
- Rome Odunze: +1800
- Drake Maye: +2000
- Bo Nix: +2000
Williams should be the early favorite but don’t count out Daniels.