Commaders’ Jayden Daniels Downplays ‘Savior’ & Rookie Of The Year Talk

After four weeks, many folks in the D.C. area are already prepared to name quarterback Jayden Daniels as the savior of the Washington Commanders. Daniels doesn’t want anything to do with that kind of talk.

“Y’all can say whatever y’all want,” Daniels told reporters this week. “I’m still a rookie in my eyes, so I let everybody else do the talking for me. I don’t get caught up in that stuff. It’s just a blessing. Just the preparation, obviously the team believing in me and we’re going out there and competing every Sunday.”

In the first four weeks of his NFL career, Daniels has been outstanding, throwing for 897 yards and three touchdowns, rushing for 218 yards and another four scores, and leading Washington to a 3-1 record. Just last week, he did his part in dismantling a talented Cardinals team in a 42-14 victory. For a team that has done a great deal of quarterback shuffling since Kirk Cousins’ departure in 2017, this production is highly encouraging.

In many ways, the Commanders don’t look very different from last year, when Sam Howell made every start. The team’s defense still has its lapses, and the offense works because of talented young players like Terry McLaurin and Brian Robinson Jr. Together with new head coach Dan Quinn, Daniels has taken over an offense that was already approaching functionality, and for now, he seems to be the perfect addition.

With Caleb Williams slowly coming to terms with the Bears offense and Drake Maye and Michael Penix Jr. riding the bench, Daniels is the early favorite for Rookie of the Year. His only challengers at the moment are Malik Nabers and Marvin Harrison Jr., wide receivers making their marks elsewhere in the NFC. In a season of inept quarterback play across the league to this point, he could even earn a few MVP votes if he continues to earn wins for Washington. The savior complex would only grow.

Of course, Washington has enjoyed the exploits of a young mobile quarterback before, when Robert Griffin III won Rookie of the Year honors in 2012 and led the team to the playoffs. Much of his career thereafter was derailed by injuries, but those comparisons haven’t yet reached Daniels. For now, the sky is the limit.