Rookie Profile: Jayden Daniels, Quarterback, Washington Commanders
This is the Rookie Profile for Jayden Daniels, a quarterback from Louisiana State University. He hails from San Bernadino, California, and was a 4-star recruit from Cajon High School. He was ranked the #1 dual-threat quarterback in his class.
As soon as Daniels enrolled at Arizona State, he started playing as a true freshman under the coaching of Herm Edwards. He displayed his impressive talent by throwing for 2,943 yards, 17 touchdowns, and only 2 interceptions while completing 60.7% of his passes throughout the year.
During his sophomore year at Arizona State, Jayden Daniels was only able to play in four games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, he was able to leverage the NCAA’s ruling and use the COVID waiver to gain another year of eligibility. In the 2020 season, he demonstrated significant improvement in his rushing abilities, with an average of 6.8 yards per carry, a notable increase from the previous year’s 2.8 yards per carry. However, he completed only 58.3% of his passes, throwing for 701 yards, 5 touchdowns, and just 1 interception.
In 2021, Daniels had an inconsistent junior season. Although his completion percentage improved, he struggled with ball security, having 10 turnovers compared to just 3 interceptions in his first 2 years. He ended the season with 2,381 passing yards, completing 65% of his passes and throwing 10 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. After the year ended, Daniels entered the transfer portal and enrolled at LSU for coach Brian Kelly.
During his first year in the purple and gold, Daniels delivered his career’s best performance. He led LSU to 10 victories, concluding with 2,913 passing yards, 17 touchdowns, and a mere three interceptions. He achieved a remarkable 68.3% pass completion rate and a career-high of 885 rushing yards.
In the year 2023, Daniels saved his best performance for the last, finally living up to the expectations of his fans and winning the much-coveted Heisman trophy. Daniels was responsible for an impressive 50 touchdowns in total, leading the NCAA in yards per attempt, passing efficiency rating, and total yards, all while turning the ball over just four times. Daniels also achieved a rare feat, joining Johnny Manziel as the only two players in SEC history to pass for 3,500 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in a single season.
Measurables
Draft Capital & Landing Spot
Draft Capital- Round 1 Pick 2
- It’s hard to beat being the second pick in the NFL Draft. Although Daniels might appear to be a risky prospect due to his late-career breakout, the premium capital invested in him allows Washington to take all the time necessary to determine if he is the franchise quarterback for the next decade. Additionally, Daniels rushing ability means he will produce fantasy points and be a starter in Washington for at least the next few years.
Landing Spot- Washington Commanders
- Jayden Daniels is joining the Washington offense, which has enough talented players to enable him to excel right away. Despite the criticism offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury receives from fantasy managers, his quarterbacks have consistently produced impressive fantasy numbers. With receivers such as Terry Mclaurin, Jahan Dotson, Ben Sinnott, and Austin Ekeler, Daniels is poised to make an impact immediately. His exceptional rushing ability adds to his already high floor in fantasy football. This landing spot has the potential to help Jayden Daniels become an elite producer in fantasy.
Team Depth Chart
Expected Role: Starting QB
Depth Chart via Fantasy Pros
Fantasy Impact
Jayden Daniels is a highly sought-after player in Superflex rookie drafts, typically selected as the third pick behind Caleb Williams and Marvin Harrison Jr. Although he comes at a high cost, his exceptional skillset makes him an ideal choice for fantasy football enthusiasts. Sometimes, Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze are selected ahead of him, causing him to slide down to the 1.04 or 1.05 picks. However, this is as far as his discounted value goes. Be prepared to pay a premium to acquire Jayden Daniels in rookie drafts.
Check out The Fantasy Football Universe Sneak Peek Video of Jayden Daniels
Check out our 2024 Rookie Rankings Page for a full breakdown of this rookie class.
