Daniels Named Week 1 Starter for Commanders

Former LSU standout and the number two overall pick in this year's draft, quarterback Jayden Daniels, has officially been named the Washington Commanders' starter for Week 1. Daniels is one of the most electrifying prospects from this year’s draft, drawing comparisons to Lamar Jackson and other notable dual-threat quarterbacks. While these comparisons are lofty, Daniels' dynamic playstyle justifies the hype. His ability to run the football was unmatched among his peers in the draft, and that trait will likely continue to set him apart at the NFL level. Despite being an older prospect at 23, like fellow rookie quarterback Bo Nix, Daniels brings plenty of excitement to the future of Commanders football.

With the announcement of Daniels as the Week 1 starter, it makes sense that he will not play in the final preseason game against the Patriots. His performances in camp and preseason games have clearly been enough to win over the coaching staff and secure his spot as the starter. Daniels has shown excellent touch on his passes, completing 12 of 15 attempts for 123 yards, while adding 16 rushing yards and a touchdown. These performances largely confirm what many anticipated: that Daniels would emerge as the Week 1 starter over former number one overall pick Marcus Mariota.

With Daniels sitting out the final preseason game, his next action will come in Week 1 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tampa Bay surprised many last year by winning a playoff game in Baker Mayfield’s first season with the team. The Buccaneers' defense plays with aggressive intensity and excels at stopping the run, which means Daniels will need to scan the field and progress through his reads to effectively lead the Commanders' offense. Expectations for the rookie will be high, but a win against a playoff-caliber team would be a huge confidence boost for both Daniels and the Commanders moving forward.