Jayden Daniels: The Face and Savior of the Washington Commanders

Washington's new general manager, Adam Peters, believes Jayden Daniels is the franchise's long-awaited savior, despite his slight stature and history of injuries.

For four decades, the Washington Commanders have been searching for a franchise-altering quarterback. Adam Peters, the team's new general manager, had only been on the job for a month when he began his quest. His first look at LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels' tape left him mesmerized.

Despite not watching many quarterbacks closely during the season, Peters was blown away by Daniels' abilities. "I saw him on TV, saw him on highlights and everything, but when you really study him as a quarterback — just as a quarterback — he's really, really good," Peters said.

That initial impression only strengthened with further examination, leading to an easy decision to make Daniels the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The pick not only marked the beginning of the new Commanders regime but also anointed Daniels as the face and savior of one of the NFL's most downtrodden franchises.

Living up to such high expectations requires a special talent and a special person. Peters spent months conducting thorough background checks on Daniels to confirm his belief that he possessed both qualities.

"We did a lot of work on Jayden," Peters said. "In terms of every single person we spoke to, it was just exemplary as a person, personal character, football character, his work ethic, his football intelligence, how much he cared, his leadership, how he is as a teammate. They were all exemplary. Every single person you would talk to, it was the same answer."

Peters' unwavering belief in Daniels stems from not only his exceptional play on the field but also his rapid growth over the past year. Despite solid but unspectacular performances in his first four college seasons, Daniels exploded last season, throwing for 3,812 yards, completing 72.2% of his passes, and scoring 40 touchdowns. He also rushed for 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns, showcasing his dual-threat ability.

"I think I still have more in the tank to learn," Daniels said at his introductory press conference. "I have more ability to tap into. I'm not a finished product."

Daniels' versatility makes him an ideal fit for the Commanders' new offensive coordinator, Kliff Kingsbury, who had success with a similar quarterback, Kyler Murray, in Arizona. Despite Daniels' somewhat slight stature, Peters dismissed concerns about his durability.

"If that's your biggest problem with somebody, then it's a pretty good deal there," Peters said. "He is so competitive. He is so tough. He got up every time," Peters added. "No questions about his toughness or his durability."

The Commanders are not merely looking for a capable quarterback but for a franchise icon, a figure who can revive the team from years of mismanagement. They believe Daniels has the maturity and leadership qualities to carry that mantle.

"He's built to handle all this," Peters insisted. "That's on and off the field. He's a very, very mature young man. He is a man, there's no doubt about it. That's what everybody assured me: This is not a college kid. This is a man."

Daniels now carries the hopes and dreams of a loyal fanbase and a region on his shoulders. Peters has no doubt that he is the right man for the job, a belief he has held since that first glimpse of Daniels' tape.