Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels is off and running
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ASHBURN, Va. – Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels is off to a solid start, and a former Commanders quarterback isn’t surprised.
Jason Campbell, a one-time Washington Redskins first-round draft pick and a four-year starter for the franchise, became a fan of Daniels’ while watching him play in college at LSU. Daniels’ success as a runner has benefited the Commanders during their 1-1 start, Campbell said, and it will help Daniels become comfortable in the team’s passing game. Campbell is bullish on Daniels’ future, providing, of course, that Washington’s coaching staff handles the young player’s development correctly.
As the team prepares at its practice facility for a Week 3 road game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Daniels has continued to make the right moves, Campbell said.
“One thing he’s doing really well is protecting the football. He hasn’t thrown an interception yet, and for a rookie quarterback through his first two games, that’s really good,” Campbell told Andscape on Tuesday. “Even when that does come [turnovers], and it’s going to come, you can tell he understands that he has to make good decisions with the football. Now, I know they’re trying to protect him from running so much. I know it’s a big deal [because of the potential for injury]. There was a lot of talk about the fact he rushed 16 times the first week.
“But it’s not like they had 16 designed runs for him. If they were doing that, then, yeah, that would be a problem. But most of those runs were scrambles. Those runs are gonna open explosive plays in the passing game because of the pressure it puts on the defense when a quarterback can run like he can. There just aren’t a lot of guys who can do that. The difference so far at Washington from LSU is that in addition to his running, he had so many explosive passing plays at LSU. Once he starts building that chemistry with his receivers, combined with his running, those plays will happen.”
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Selected second overall in the 2024 draft, Daniels, 23, was among six signal-callers who were chosen in the first round, which tied a record set in 1983. Through two games, Washington’s rookie has been the best of the group.
Daniels has completed 75.5% of his passes for 410 passing yards. Although he has no touchdown passes, Daniels, most importantly, also has no interceptions. Daniels has 132 rushing yards (and a sparkling 5.1-yards per rush average) with two rushing touchdowns. He has fumbled twice, but the Commanders recovered the ball each time.
In comparison, the other two starting rookie signal-callers, No. 1 pick Caleb Williams of the Chicago Bears and No. 12 pick Bo Nix of the Denver Broncos have struggled. Both have appeared overwhelmed by the speed of the game.
After the visiting Commanders lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Daniels’ career debut, he displayed poise in their home opener. Confidently, Daniels directed a game-winning drive that capped a 21-18 victory over the New York Giants. With the Commanders trailing 18-15 late in the fourth quarter, Daniels led the team on consecutive drives that produced field goals, including a 30-yarder as time expired. On those drives, he completed a combined 7 of 9 passes for 91 yards. Daniels ran twice for 15 yards.
While observing Daniels at LSU, Campbell thought the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner’s game would translate well to the NFL because “in this day and age in the league, it’s all about the RPO [run-pass option],” Campbell said. “These NFL coaches now, they want guys who can make plays with their legs. And from the first time you watch him, you can see he really does that.”
In his current role as a radio analyst on Auburn Sports Network, Campbell watched Daniels play often in the SEC. Chosen as analyst at his alma mater in 2023, Campbell was the SEC Offensive Player of the Year in 2004. That season, he led undefeated Auburn to an SEC championship and a Sugar Bowl victory.
Washington selected Campbell in the first round (25th overall) in the 2005 draft. He went on to have a 10-year NFL career, also playing for the then-Oakland Raiders, the Bears, Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals.
The first time Campbell saw Daniels, who transferred to LSU after three seasons at Arizona State, play in person, one thought immediately popped came to mind: Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. Although Daniels wasn’t as polished as Jackson, the two-time AP NFL MVP, “you could see some of the same things,” Campbell said. “Guys like Lamar, Jalen Hurts [of the Philadelphia Eagles], Justin Fields [of the Pittsburgh Steelers] … they make big plays with their legs.
“When I played, they [coaches] always wanted you to stay in the pocket. If you didn’t stay in the pocket, it was like, ‘Dang. I did something wrong.’ Now, if you can leave the pocket and run the way those guys can, coaches look at it as an added threat. The whole attitude of coaches has changed. Now, it’s a big bonus. The RPO game really has made it possible for guys to be able to come in, start right away and learn on the field. A guy like Daniels can beat you as much with his legs as his arm.”
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As a member of Washington’s Black quarterback fraternity, Campbell has a rooting interest in Daniels’ development.
Then-quarterback Doug Williams’ iconic, myth-busting Super Bowl performance occurred when he led Washington to a 42-10 victory over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXII in 1988. Williams became the first Black passer to start in the Super Bowl and win the game’s MVP award.
Although Williams, who’s a senior adviser to Washington’s general manager, wasn’t drafted by the Commanders and started only 14 games for the franchise over four seasons, all Black quarterbacks who play for the team do so in his shadow, Campbell said. The club also drafted Robert Griffin III (2012, No. 2 overall) and Dwayne Haskins (2019, No. 15 overall) in the first round.
“You do feel like there is a little bit of added pressure to live up to that,” Campbell said. “Because he was the first Black quarterback to win the Super Bowl, and he did it for Washington, that is a big thing.
“But the bottom line is, to make it anywhere in this league as a quarterback, you’ve gotta be in the right place, in the right situation and have the right pieces around you. For [Daniels] right now, it’s going in a pretty good direction.”
And hungry for success, Commanders fans hope Daniels will remain on his current course.