With the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Washington Commanders have selected reigning Heisman Trophy winner, Jayden Daniels. Daniels was a star for the LSU Tigers over the last two seasons, helping them win 10 games each year. He earned more national spotlight this past year, helping him win the highest honor in college football.
Related: Chicago Bears Select Caleb Williams No. 1 Overall in NFL Draft
Washington has been searching for a franchise quarterback for years and now presumably has it with Daniels. He will have a good wide receiver group to throw the ball to early on, including star Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson and Dyami Brown. With new head coach Dan Quinn and new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, the Commanders are poised to potentially be a real threat in the NFC.
Daniels threw for 3,812 yards with 40 touchdown passes and just four interceptions for the Tigers this past year. But it was his dual-threat ability that helped him become the dominant force that took the league by storm. On the ground, Daniels was even more special, rushing for 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns. His ability to run the ball allowed the LSU offense to reach new heights, ultimately becoming one of the better offenses in the entire country.
Prior to coming over to LSU, Daniels attended Arizona State University. He never lived up to his potential while with the Sun Devils and ultimately entered the transfer portal. From day one with the Tigers, the difference was apparent. Working under LSU head coach Brian Kelly seemed to do wonders for the versatile quarterback.
His freshman season with Arizona State showed a ton of promise, throwing for 2,943 yards with 17 touchdowns and two interceptions. He was named an honorable mention for the Pac-12 Freshman Offensive Player of the Year and led the Sun Devils to a victory in the 2019 Sun Bowl, becoming the MVP of the game. Daniels was the first true freshman to start for Arizona State, showing how much upside he originally had.
In 2021, Daniels regressed a little bit, only throwing for 2,381 yards and 10 touchdowns on the season. Arizona State finished 8-5 and after the year ended, it was announced that the program was under investigation for recruitment violations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Daniels then transferred to LSU in March 2022.
Coming to LSU was the best decision he could have made and now he is a top pick in the NFL. Daniels has all the tools to succeed at the next level, especially given his strong dual-threat abilities. With him being a high pick, his career will always be compared to Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams — but Daniels has shown that he is up for whatever challenge is in front of him down the line.
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Matt Levine works as a contributing writer for Newsweek, covering multiple sports. He graduated in 2021 with a Master of ... Read more
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