Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, the 2024 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, saw his performance decline in his injury-shortened second season. Can he rebound in Year 3?
With a new offensive coordinator in former quarterbacks coach David Blough, the third-year quarterback is not only faced with leading a new offensive approach, but he is also in position to elevate his game to make the players around him better and be more of a leader on the offensive side of the ball.
After leading the team to the NFC Championship Game during his rookie season, the ceiling of expectations got a bit higher for the quarterback. With those expectations comes greater pressure, as Daniels now has to prove his rookie season wasn't a one-year flash similar to Robert Griffin III's early success. While he gets a pass for Year 2 due to injuries, the challenge is to prove he’s a more durable quarterback while also taking the next step a season-shortened 2025 NFL season didn’t allow him to take.
Along with the impact he is expected to make, especially as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Daniels knows his value now consists of leadership, while also continuing to be himself.
"I would say it's kind of, the standard hasn't changed, you know, since I was able to come out here and obviously make an impact and, you know, guys are looking at me since year one,” Daniels said per the team’s official website, “But now it's just like, 'okay, how can I be able just to build a connection with everybody within the locker room?'. I do have a voice in a lot of people listen to what I'm going to say, but from there, just continue to just show up and just be myself every day."
Leadership and durability define Jayden Daniels' Year 3
With Daniels playing in just seven games in 2025 due to an injury-plagued Year 2, the Commanders finished the season at 5-12 after going 12-5 during his rookie campaign. In those games played, Daniels threw for 1,262 yards with 8 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. The disappointing season led to the Commanders parting ways with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and going with Blough as the new coordinator, a coach Daniels is familiar with as one of his former coaches at LSU as well.
Heading into training camp, Daniels is poised to adapt to the new style of offense as he will play more under center. Will this make him a more effective quarterback in the NFL? It’s a new approach he is looking forward to as he sees it as an opportunity to open the offense.
"I mean, man, it's just giving different variations and variety, you know, different formations, run, play-action either that's in the gun, you know, wide zone, inside zone, mid zone, things like that,” Daniels said when asked about Blough’s playbook. “So, man, I would just open up a lot more things that we have to go out there and give and then from there, you know, we just keep learning, keep building from there and get better in training camp when time comes."
Better supporting cast could unlock Daniels again
Daniels' success in 2026 will depend heavily on the playmakers around him. Veteran wide receiver Terry McLaurin will still be his primary option down the field, but the Commanders have several young players who need to step up. That includes 2026 third-round pick Antonio Williams, third-year receiver Luke McCaffrey and Treylon Burks, a 2022 first round pick. Daniels will also have a pair of tight ends in Chigoziem Okonkwo and Ben Sinnott who should play viable roles in the passing game.
Along with the playmakers in the passing game, the running backs will be vital to Daniels’ success as well. Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Rachaad White along with Jerome Ford and rookie running back Kaytron Allen could give the Commanders a strong rushing attack, making Daniels more effective in play action and allows Blough to fully install his RPO tempo spread scheme. Ultimately, Year 3 comes down to Daniels returning to the quarterback he was as a rookie while taking the next step as a leader capable of elevating everyone around him.
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