Dan Quinn Shares 2 Skills That Made Jayden Daniels QB1 for Commanders

With a new ownership group aiming to lay the foundations of a long-term winning culture, the Washington Commanders selected former Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels to be their future leader in this year’s draft. And if fans were harboring any doubts about the No. 2 overall pick’s fitness for the job, perhaps the team’s new head coach just squashed them.

While speaking to reporters at training camp on Tuesday, head coach Dan Quinn revealed that Daniels has been listed atop the Commanders’ first unofficial depth chart, and is also penciled in to start their preseason opener against the New York Jets on Saturday.

A predictable move, considering the sheer weight of the draft slot. But it didn’t take long for Daniels to turn heads.

During his session with the media, Quinn offered some rather high praise to Daniels, admitting that he’s already surpassed expectations placed upon him during the spring.

It wasn’t the first time Quinn lauded the rookie quarterback, but he did mention two particular traits that earned Daniels the nod to take more first-team reps and immediately stake his claim.

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Coaches and Teammates Noticing Smart Decision-Making

Daniels continues to pass camp checkpoints.

Daniels split the Commanders’ first-team reps with veteran backup Marcus Mariota in the first week of training camp, but that workload quickly turned in Daniels’ favor, and Quinn attributed the change to the rookie’s overall accuracy and decision-making in team drills.

Quinn called it a byproduct of Daniels ‘nailing those moments’ when coaches were paying close attention to his pass attempts and understanding of the playbook.

Commanders first-year offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury has also commended Daniels for his approach, as he told reporters on Tuesday that the former LSU stud “must study like crazy at night” to have such a grasp on the scheme and terminology.

The team appreciates Daniels’ work ethic, and what helped him climb league draft boards was his eye-popping improvement in accuracy last season.

Daniels completed the 2023 campaign with a career-best 72.2 completion percentage, and his refined field vision catapulted his touchdown-to-interception ratio to a staggering 40-to-4.

Yes, having a few elite playmakers contributed to his stellar numbers — receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. were also 2024 first-round picks — but Daniels checked off a critical box as one of the country’s top dual-threat quarterbacks.

It’s also worth mentioning that sharp decision-making skills are valuable in the ground game, and Daniels certainly showcased his development as a ball carrier. He rushed for 1,134 yards on 135 carriers for 10 touchdowns with LSU last season, and the Commanders must salivate at play-action possibilities Daniels is poised to execute. He has the elusiveness and footwork that’ll keep defenses off-balance and irate. At full strength, Daniels could be a gamewrecker.

Competitiveness on Display in Training Camp

Daniels’ leadership has already been praised by his teammates.

Every NFL team stresses the tangibles during the scouting process, but intangibles also matter — especially for players in charge of an offense. Quinn admires Daniels’ competitive nature, and a rookie quarterback that exudes a calm-cool-collected attitude is valuable.

By grasping the offense so quickly, Daniels is building confidence as a leader, and Quinn told reporters that he sees other players “gravitate toward” Daniels on the field.

Even before Daniels was named the Commanders’ starter, he explained how much he loves competition, telling reporters in July that he can’t afford to feel comfortable in the cut-throat pro environment. The never-satisfied mentality also contributed to his rise to stardom at the college level.

Quinn’s opinion on Daniels’ demeanor has been echoed by players. Back in May, Commanders third-year receiver Jahan Dotson called Daniels “the quarterback I wanted,” and just last week, he told reporters that the rookie is a “special talent.”

Veteran tight end Zach Ertz also issued a rave review in a recent interview, claiming that Daniels is “good now” and not a youngster who can eventually reach the level.

Daniels has the tools to succeed in the NFL, and the Commanders couldn’t afford to pass on his talent when their turn arrived. While his first challenge will be facing a Jets defense that ranked top-five in several major categories last season, Daniels doesn’t seem too intimidated by his upcoming tasks.

Of course, only time will tell if the championship-starved Commanders truly found the superstar quarterback they’ve long been searching for.

Source: ESPN

All statistics courtesy of Pro Football Reference unless stated otherwise.

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