- A rookie marketing campaign for the ages: Daniels led the Commanders to their first convention championship look in over 30 years and tied Russell Wilson’s 90.6 general grade for the best single-season mark by a rookie QB within the PFF period.
- Room for progress: Daniels’ 88.2 deep passing grade (throws of 20-plus yards) ranked seventeenth within the NFL, and his adjusted completion proportion on these makes an attempt was simply 38.6%, inserting him twenty seventh. It’s nearly onerous to think about, however the Commanders’ offense may have been much more explosive final season had extra of these alternatives linked.
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Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels took the NFL by storm in his rookie season, delivering one of many best debut campaigns of all time. He led the Commanders to their first convention championship look in over 30 years and tied Russell Wilson’s 90.6 general grade for the best single-season mark by a rookie QB within the PFF period.
The No. 2 general decide shattered expectations and proved that his Heisman-winning efficiency throughout the 2023 season was no fluke. He turned what had been thought of weaknesses popping out of faculty into clear strengths on the NFL stage and established himself as one of many league’s most dynamic younger stars.
The highs included a dominant Week 3 efficiency in opposition to Cincinnati, the place he went 21-of-23 for 254 yards and two touchdowns with no single interception. He added two big-time throws and averted any turnover-worthy performs, ending with a season-best 95.9 PFF grade.
Let’s dive into Daniels’ rookie marketing campaign and break down what went proper—and what wants work—for the previous No. 2 general decide.
The Good
Playmaking by way of the air and on the bottom
Coming out of faculty, Daniels was identified for his athleticism and talent to create explosive performs along with his legs, and that ability set translated instantly to the NFL. He was one in every of solely two quarterbacks to eclipse 1,000 speeding yards in 2024 and led the league in missed tackles compelled by a quarterback (52). Daniels additionally posted an NFL-best 669 scramble yards, greater than 200 yards away from the subsequent closest signal-caller.
But Daniels wasn’t only a menace to take off and run. Throughout the season, he persistently saved his eyes downfield whereas on the transfer, turning scrambles into highlight-reel throws and showcasing his evolution as a passer beneath stress.
I’m writing an article recapping final 12 months’s rookie QBs and I’m, in fact, beginning with Jayden Daniels. I forgot about how unreal this throw was final 12 months pic.twitter.com/pBYbWyt2cR
— Nick Akridge (@PFF_NickAkridge) July 2, 2025
One of the largest issues about Daniels coming into the draft was his sack avoidance. At the school stage, he carried a profession pressure-to-sack price of 24.5%. After only one 12 months within the NFL, he minimize that quantity to 19.7%, proper in keeping with the league common for quarterbacks in 2024.
It’s a major step ahead. While Daniels has at all times had the athleticism to flee stress, it was his elite anticipation as a rookie that helped him keep away from holding the ball too lengthy and turning pressures into drive-killing sacks.
Anticipation and middle-of-the-field throws
Another concern about Daniels popping out of faculty was his hesitancy to assault the center of the sector. That narrative didn’t final lengthy. As a rookie, Daniels routinely made high-level, anticipatory throws over the center—tight-window passes that few quarterbacks within the league are keen, or ready, to try.
My favourite Jayden Daniels center of the sector throws (there have been lots (he is actually good)) pic.twitter.com/JyzFoA0ZQO
— Nick Akridge (@PFF_NickAkridge) July 3, 2025
When Daniels was in rhythm attacking the center of the sector, he ranked third in completions and earned an 84.9 passing grade, the Tenth-best within the NFL.
Success between the numbers is commonly a litmus take a look at for the way properly a quarterback processes defenses and sees the sector. These throws demand anticipation and exact timing, traits that separate the elite from the remainder. In his rookie season, Daniels already confirmed he belongs in that dialog.
The Bad
The “fall-off” throws
Finding flaws in a rookie quarterback’s sport is often straightforward, however with Daniels, we’re already beginning to nitpick. He carried out at such a excessive stage throughout the board that this part doesn’t include evident pink flags.
One space of enchancment, although, is how he dealt with stress. Daniels confirmed an inclination to fall off some throws, significantly when defenders closed in. His adjusted completion proportion dropped to 63.1% beneath stress, twenty fifth within the NFL.
Too typically, he relied on off-balance, back-foot throws as an alternative of standing tall and taking the hit, which led to occasional inaccuracies and restricted yards after the catch for his receivers.
Unfortunately, Jayden Daniels isn’t excellent. He does have a slight tendency to fall off throws resulting in incompletions or completions that stop yards after the catch pic.twitter.com/sMVMerppLz
— Nick Akridge (@PFF_NickAkridge) July 7, 2025
The Commanders’ continued funding within the offensive line ought to assist alleviate a few of these points, however even the league’s finest models can’t preserve a quarterback clear on each snap. For Daniels to maintain ascending, he’ll must develop extra comfy standing in and delivering throws beneath stress, even when it means taking successful.
Deep accuracy
Deep accuracy was one other space the place Daniels confirmed room for progress. While he produced loads of highlight-reel downfield throws, the consistency wasn’t fairly the place you’d need it. The subject wasn’t arm energy. If something, Daniels typically overthrew his receivers on deep photographs.
His 88.2 deep passing grade (throws of 20-plus yards) ranked seventeenth within the NFL, and his adjusted completion proportion on these makes an attempt was simply 38.6%, inserting him twenty seventh. It’s nearly onerous to think about, however the Commanders’ offense may have been much more explosive final season had extra of these alternatives linked. Cleaning up this facet of his sport may elevate Daniels — and Washington’s offense — to a wholly new stage in 2025.
The backside line
After only one season, Jayden Daniels has already established himself as one of many NFL’s prime quarterbacks, and there’s a case to be made that he’s one of the best within the NFC.
To proceed climbing into the league’s elite tier, he’ll must keep away from the dreaded sophomore hunch. Given how shortly he turned his perceived weaknesses into strengths as a rookie, there’s each purpose to imagine he’s able to doing precisely that.