“He’s got a swagger to him”: QB Jayden Daniels leaves a strong first impression on the Commanders
ASHBURN, Va. – Nick Allegretti arrived at the Washington Commanders’ facility around 6:30 a.m. and headed down a staircase towards the team’s locker room. On his way, he passed the team’s rookie quarterback, who had only been on the job for about a month.
“You start to doubt yourself a little bit,” said Allegretti, an offensive lineman who won three Super Bowls with the Kansas City Chiefs from 2019-23 before joining Washington this offseason. “You think you’re one of the early guys, and it looked like he’d been here for a while. He’s bright-eyed. I’m dragging myself in here.”
Going forward, Allegretti said he might start arriving at 6 a.m. But Jayden Daniels would still beat him.
“I arrive here around 5:45 a.m.,” Daniels said.
Arriving early is one way Daniels has impressed his new teammates and coaches, contributing to why the No. 2 overall pick is on the fast track to start Week 1 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“The effort you invest is reflected in the results you achieve,” Daniels said. “If you truly want to be successful, to learn, and to perform at a professional level, you need to observe and learn from others. Understand their routines and what contributes to their success.”
Jayden Daniels’ ‘high football IQ,’ ‘swagger’ help him conquer NFL playbook
With the sun just above the horizon, Daniels makes his way across a parking lot from the locker room to the bubble for a morning walk-through with rookie receiver and third-round pick Luke McCaffrey. This early start is a habit he developed at LSU. In his second season with the Tigers, Daniels won the 2023 Heisman Trophy, establishing himself as a potential franchise quarterback for teams picking early in this April’s draft—a future that first-year Washington general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn are hoping will pan out.
The amount of work Daniels has done in a short amount of time was obvious to the rest of the team, Quinn said.
“You can see how hard he worked to get the system down and in place,” Quinn said during OTAs.
Quinn added: “He’s got this demeanor about the execution, about the confidence. He’s got a swagger to him.”
Marcus Mariota, who is both competing with Daniels and serving as a veteran presence in the quarterback room, emphasized that mastering offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s system early on is crucial. This demonstrates to the team, particularly the older players, that he is in control.
“Nail it and say, ‘I got this, I got it figured out,’” Mariota stated. “He’s done a great job of that. We just need to keep helping him grow and develop. Ultimately, when we all compete in that room, it makes every one of us better.”
Everything Kingsbury and the Commanders’ staff learned about Daniels during their pre-draft scouting pointed to him being an “intentional” prospect. This trait has been beneficial in implementing the new offense with Daniels.
Daniels likened an NFL playbook to an “encyclopedia,” but Kingsbury noted that Daniels has a unique understanding of protections, which is uncommon for a rookie.
“His football IQ is really high,” Kingsbury said.
Quinn highlighted that demonstrating full command of the offense includes initiating motion, escaping broken plays, and noting corrections for other players.
“Not just knowing your own responsibility,” Quinn said, “but understanding what others are supposed to do as well.”
It also helps that Daniels is learning the offense alongside the rest of the team.
“This is a bright guy, so he’s picking up the offense quickly,” Quinn said, “and honestly, it’s new for everyone.”
Jayden Daniels responsible for building culture with Washington Commanders
Daniels spent his first three college seasons at Arizona State before transferring to LSU to join head coach Brian Kelly in his inaugural season with the Tigers in 2022. During his first season at LSU, Daniels was productive, recording 28 total touchdowns (11 rushing) in 14 games and achieving a 68.8% completion rate with 7.5 yards per attempt.
The following season, he vastly improved those stats, throwing for 3,812 yards with a 72.2% completion rate, 40 touchdowns, and just four interceptions over 12 games. He also rushed for 1,134 yards (8.4 yards per carry) and scored 10 touchdowns.
Daniels’ growth from season to season at LSU is evident. He is most proud of how he handled the transition from Arizona State to LSU, which he believes helped him mature significantly.
“It helped me grow even more, you know, being out there on my own,” Daniels said. “I wasn’t really dependent on family – more so, you know how to figure some stuff out and figure out who I want to be as a person.”
Daniels has also impressed the Commanders, with quarterbacks coach Tavita Pritchard noting, “He’s comfortable in his skin,” adding that Daniels’ confidence has a calming effect and helps bring people along with him.
As a 23-year-old, Daniels is conscious of the need to relate to his veteran teammates and demonstrate his leadership. He and Pritchard have discussed ways to communicate effectively with receivers and linemen to optimize their offense.
“I think when you’re genuine and you are who you are and you’re unapologetic about it, I think that goes a long way,” Pritchard said.
According to wide receiver and team captain Terry McLaurin, Daniels often approaches receivers after practice to ask for extra reps, showing his commitment to improvement.
Pritchard, who first noticed Daniels when he coached at Stanford and Daniels was at Arizona State, reaffirmed his positive impressions during pre-draft tape study. He saw Daniels effectively utilizing his legs and arms, processing quickly, and getting the ball out efficiently—traits necessary for success at the next level.
The Commanders’ staff also emphasized Daniels’ competitive nature and love for football, qualities they value highly as they aim to build a strong organizational culture.
“We’ve talked about competitiveness. We’ve talked about his love for football,” Pritchard said. “These are things (Quinn) is preaching day in and day out, and it’s been consistent of everyone we’ve brought in.”
Daniels is one of the first to show up every day, underscoring his dedication and drive.
