Former Washington Commanders cornerback Fred Smoot recently declared Jayden Daniels the best quarterback in the NFC East after an outstanding rookie campaign. Daniels earned the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award while guiding the Commanders to a strong 12-5 record and an NFC Championship Game appearance, marking a remarkable start to his professional career.
Impressive Rookie Year Sets Daniels Apart
During his first season, Daniels posted a 69.0% completion rate and amassed a 25-9 touchdown to interception ratio, showcasing both accuracy and efficiency. His playoff performance was especially notable, accumulating 822 passing yards and five touchdowns to lead all quarterbacks despite the Commanders suffering a heavy loss against the Philadelphia Eagles in the conference title game. Before entering the NFL, Daniels built a solid foundation at LSU, where he won the Heisman Trophy and was selected second overall in the NFL Draft.
Comparing Daniels with Super Bowl Winner Jalen Hurts
The growing discussion around Daniels often involves comparisons with Jalen Hurts, the reigning Super Bowl-winning quarterback. With Dallas Cowboys’ Dak Prescott recovering from injury and the New York Giants struggling with quarterback consistency, the spotlight increasingly focuses on Daniels and Hurts as the top signal-callers in the division. Smoot strongly believes Daniels excels beyond Hurts in both passing and running aspects.
“The best thrower of the ball in the NFC East is Jayden Daniels,”
Smoot said during the Get Loud show on the Commanders’ official channel.
“The best runner of the football is Jayden Daniels. That makes him the No. 1 quarterback.”
Distinct Playing Styles and Offensive Roles
Hurts operates in a system engineered to reduce his individual burden, especially following Philadelphia’s addition of All-Pro running back Saquon Barkley. Hurts completed 68.4% of his passes and scored 14 rushing touchdowns, primarily in short-yardage scenarios, including the famous Brotherly Shove play. Meanwhile, Daniels, with fewer rushing touchdowns (six), recorded a longer run of 46 yards compared to Hurts’ best of 35 yards, reflecting his threat as a runner on longer plays.
Smoot elaborated on their differences, stating,
“I think Jayden throws the ball with more precision and anticipation than [Hurts] does. I think Jayden is a more dangerous runner.”
Commanders’ Outlook with Daniels Leading the Charge
Looking toward the upcoming season, hope is high around the Commanders. Daniels’ potential combined with head coach Dan Quinn’s leadership aims to cultivate a winning culture. The franchise seeks to secure back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time since the early 1990s, when Washington made three consecutive postseason runs. After splitting games with the Eagles last season, the Commanders begin the new season with a clear goal of establishing themselves as the dominant team in the NFC East.
With Daniels positioned to build on his rookie success, the Commanders and their fans expect continued growth and a stronger presence within a competitive division.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What happened to Jayden Daniels?
A. Daniels got hurt in his rib area during a game against the Carolina Panthers in October. In the first quarter, he was tackled by two players after running for 46 yards, which caused his injury. Afterward, he couldn’t play for the rest of the match.
Q. Are Jayden Daniels parents?
A. Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Jayden Daniels’ Parents: Javon Daniels and Regina Jackson.
Q. What did Dan Quinn say about Jayden Daniels?
A. Coach Dan Quinn definitely thinks Daniels will improve more in his second year than he was as a rookie. “Jayden Daniels never hesitates,” said Quinn, according to ProFootballTalk. “He is extremely focused and determined to keep getting better.”
Q. Why did they bench Jayden Daniels?
A. After the game, Quinn explained, “We didn’t originally intend for this. We hoped to continue with Jayden Daniels, but he had a slightly sore leg. So, I decided to say, ‘Let’s use Marcus Mariota instead.’”