The franchise now known as the Washington Commanders made quarterback Robert Griffin III the second overall pick of the 2012 NFL Draft, and he earned Offensive Rookie of the Year Award honors before he ultimately became a “what could have been?” football story. Nevertheless, Griffin knows plenty about what current Washington signal-caller Jayden Daniels is experiencing as a first-year pro.
For a piece published Friday, Griffin spoke with Andscape’s Jason Reid about what Daniels could mean for the Commanders and the nation’s capital.
“I’ll say this,” Griffin explained, “and I’ve told you this before. When you win in D.C., there’s no better city to be in. And when you win in D.C., the quarterback is more important than the president of the United States. That’s what Jayden Daniels has accomplished.”
Daniels guided the Commanders to a 5-2 record before he completed a miracle walk-off Hail Mary pass in last Sunday’s victory over the Chicago Bears that may have put 2024 Offensive-Rookie-of-the-Year Award discussions to bed. According to ESPN stats, Daniels began Friday ranked fifth in the NFL among qualified players with a 72.6 adjusted QBR, seventh with a 104.3 passer rating and second with a 71.8% completion percentage on the season. Per the StatMuse website, he’s sixth in the NFL, with 2,160 passing and rushing yards combined. Thus far, Daniels has accumulated seven passing touchdowns and four rushing scores.
“I’m honored to be connected to him and his family and be a mentor when he needs me to be,” Griffin added during his chat with Reid. “Jayden Daniels is top level when it comes to his mindset, how cerebral he is, how smart he is. You see it in his play. He doesn’t force many things. He has a natural ability to make big plays happen at just the right time. So, yeah, I am genuinely happy for him. And I’m even more happy for the city.”
As of Friday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook listed Daniels fifth among the betting favorites at +1100 odds to win the regular-season Most Valuable Player Award. No rookie has accomplished that feat since the legendary Jim Brown did so in 1957.
Daniels and Washington’s next play at the 2-6 New York Giants is this Sunday.
