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By Megan Armstrong
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The Washington Commanders felt like they hit the lottery by drafting Heisman-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels at No. 2 overall in 2024.
In 2024, Daniels won Offensive Rookie of the Year while leading the Commanders to a 12-5 record and the franchise's first NFC Championship Game appearance since 1991. After the eventual champion Philadelphia Eagles trounced Washington 55-23, the Commanders' luck seemed to run out.
Last season started on an ominous note. Daniels sprained his knee against the Green Bay Packers in Week 2, which sidelined him for two games before returning against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 5. Next, Daniels suffered a hamstring strain in Week 7 that cost him Week 8, and he suffered a gruesome dislocated elbow in a blowout loss to Seattle in Week 9. He started against Minnesota in Week 14, but was shut down for the season on Dec. 15.
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Overall, Daniels recorded 1,262 yards, eight touchdowns, and three interceptions on 60.6% completion across seven games for the 5-12 Commanders. After the season, head coach Dan Quinn vowed to leave 2025 behind and told Rich Eisen he expects "absolute savage competitor" Daniels to play with "things to prove" in 2026.
The Athletic's Ted Nguyen is skeptical of what Daniels will be able to prove through no fault of his own, but rather the lack of support around him.
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Nguyen acknowledged that the Commanders have spent $252.9 million in free agency so far, but emphasized that tangible improvement has only been made on the defensive side of the ball, while the Commanders "haven't gotten much better on offense."
"It seemed like they let center Tyler Biadasz go in free agency to swing for the fences for [Tyler] Linderbaum, but were outbid by the Raiders," Nguyen wrote. "They’ve signed receiver Dyami Brown, who has some production and experience with Jayden Daniels, but didn’t re-sign Deebo Samuel. It was the right decision on Samuel, who will be 30 years old, but he did provide production that they’ll have to replace."
Nguyen expects the Commanders to target offense in the 2026 NFL Draft next month — namely, interior offensive line and "a game-changing wide receiver" — but, with their free agency approach, they've put so much pressure on nailing the draft.
"The Commanders will transition to playing under center more with new coordinator David Blough calling plays, which means the offense will have to win in more traditional ways without the mathematical advantage of as many quarterback options as they’ve run before," Nguyen wrote.
"Daniels’ rookie contract window is closing as he goes into his third year. Unless they nail the draft, this seems like another season in which they won’t be serious contenders. The defense is better, but this team will go as far as Daniels will take them, and he does not have the support he needs right now."
Washington holds the No. 7 overall pick in the draft, which begins on April 23. ESPN's Field Yates projects the Commanders to select former Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. The Heisman finalist is touted by many as the best prospect in this class, so he might not get to No. 7.
On Monday, ESPN's Adam Schefter told The Pat McAfee Show that he doesn't expect, based on his reporting, the Tennessee Titans or the New York Giants to take Love at No. 4 or No. 5, respectively. "To me, a place that makes sense today, a month out, would be the Washington Commanders," Schefter said.
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