ASHBURN, Va. — With the Chicago Bears on the clock holding the primary decide within the 2024 NFL draft, Washington Commanders common supervisor Adam Peters gathered scouts, coaches, executives and different Commanders personnel within the workforce’s makeshift warfare room to share the announcement many had lengthy anticipated.
Many within the group had anticipated they would choose LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels. However no person knew for sure. And now, after telling members of the possession group individually earlier within the day, Peters made it official.
He instructed them, in line with one particular person within the room, they’re getting a “younger man who loves soccer” and would assist them “change this franchise ceaselessly.”
Then, in line with the supply, Peters lastly stated: “We’re going with Jayden.”
The room erupted with cheers, clapping and high-fives.
“It was like a room of pleasure,” stated an individual who was there. “It put all people comfy.”
The announcement ended months of hypothesis from these outdoors of Peters’ inside circle about who Washington, with the No. 2 decide, would faucet to entrance a brand new period of Commanders soccer. Although many inside indicators pointed to Daniels, there was nonetheless marvel earlier than Peters, main his first draft as a common supervisor, knowledgeable the room of his decide.
He appreciated Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy greater than presumed second selection Drake Maye, the North Carolina star QB, in line with a number of sources. However Daniels — due partially to his expertise, polish, resilience and game-changing capacity — grew to become the group’s prime decide early of their evaluations and by no means misplaced floor as Peters & Co. completed out the method.
Whereas each No. 2 decide is of giant significance, this decide might alter the trajectory of a franchise attempting to determine a brand new identification beneath new proprietor Josh Harris — who bought the workforce final summer time — new coach Dan Quinn and first-time GM Peters. Washington is trying to get past greater than twenty years of futility beneath earlier proprietor Dan Snyder, and fixing its decades-long quarterback quest with a long-term reply on the place would go a good distance towards undertaking that aim. Washington has began 33 quarterbacks since final successful the Tremendous Bowl after the 1991 season; the Commanders began eight prior to now 4 years; no quarterback has served because the No. 1 man for greater than three years since Mark Rypien from 1989-93.
They wanted to ensure that they had the fitting man. Ultimately, their course of led them again to the place they started: Daniels.
“We knew it was Jayden for some time,” Peters stated. “It could have taken rather a lot for it to not be Jayden. The entire constructing I’d say was unanimous on that one. It is easy to see why.”
ALL ALONG, MULTIPLE SOURCES stated Daniels was the man with whom they had been smitten. Somebody wanted to knock him off the mountaintop; nobody did.
Earlier than becoming a member of the Commanders in January, Peters spent the 2023 common season because the assistant common supervisor for the San Francisco 49ers — a workforce that was not trying to draft a quarterback within the first spherical — and had not begun finding out movie of the 2024 QB class.
In line with a number of sources in Washington, Peters was additionally excessive on McCarthy. Others within the constructing had been, too. The 2023 nationwide champion was environment friendly, had a robust arm and moved nicely. Washington’s decision-makers additionally cherished how personable he was.
Many within the NFL stated McCarthy had untapped potential due to Michigan’s run-heavy offensive method, however many within the group thought he wanted extra expertise. Washington additionally closely scouted Maye in addition to Michael Penix Jr. All 4 quarterbacks visited Washington earlier than the draft. Ultimately, McCarthy was second on its record of choices.
It didn’t take lengthy to develop a robust opinion of Daniels as soon as workforce officers began watching his movie after the season. In reality, one supply stated, the sport that set Washington on the Daniels’ path was LSU’s season-opening 45-24 loss to Florida State. Daniels threw for 346 yards and ran for 64 extra, however one Commanders supply stated, along with his polish and arm expertise, they appreciated how he responded after struggling a number of massive hits within the recreation.
There have been questions on Daniels, nevertheless: Although he measured 6-foot-3 5/8 and weighed 210 kilos at his professional day, some puzzled concerning the massive hits he took in video games, owing partially to his working capacity. Would he defend himself nicely sufficient to final within the NFL? His excessive pressure-to-sack charge was additionally considered as a priority within the analytics neighborhood. He was sacked 24.5% of the time when pressured in his 5 seasons (three at Arizona State, two at LSU). At LSU, he went from 30.8 his first season (2022) to twenty.2 final 12 months. His profession quantity was increased than the opposite prospects within the first spherical. Additionally, Daniels tried simply 68 passes between the hashes, the fifty fifth most within the NCAA final 12 months.
Most evaluators within the NFL pegged USC’s 2022 Heisman winner Caleb Williams as the perfect quarterback due to his dynamic capacity and excellence on off-schedule performs. He was thought of the plain selection for Chicago at No. 1.
Peters, in the meantime, stated he couldn’t imagine how good Daniels was when he lastly watched the tape.
“The way in which he can course of, the way in which he can see the sector, the way in which he goes via his reads, the way in which he delivers [the ball] on time. He is the perfect deep-ball thrower within the draft,” Peters stated, “and that is even earlier than we begin watching him run and the way in which he runs he simply takes your soul as a protection. You suppose you bought him after which unexpectedly, he rips off a 40-yard run. And that is in opposition to the SEC, the perfect of the perfect.”
Peters stated Washington by no means thought of buying and selling again within the draft, although he later instructed Massive 100 Radio in Washington that they obtained just one provide and “it did not transfer the needle.” However despite the fact that all indicators pointed to drafting Daniels, Peters was decided to complete the analysis course of — simply in case.
On the scouting mix in February, Peters instructed an assembled group that included offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, Harris, entrance workplace guide Bob Myers and Quinn that “one thing has to occur to not be Jayden.”
Through the workforce’s 15-minute interview session with Daniels on the mix, these within the room stated the laid-back Daniels was not oozing pleasure.
Till they turned on the sport movie.
“He sat up in his chair and he was dialed in,” one particular person within the room stated. “He is aware of his stuff. It was his physique language. He perked up.”
One other particular person stated, “You may see Jayden simply lights up when the tape comes on. You may’t faux that. He simply goes, ‘Yeah, let’s discuss soccer.’ It was genuine.”
After drafting Daniels final Thursday, Peters referenced different promoting factors that led Washington to the choice, together with his use of digital actuality, which Daniels claims helped him enhance by “70 to 80%” for his closing 12 months.
On the mix, Quinn revealed his need for Daniels — maybe unintentionally — one workforce supply stated. Whereas taking part in a phrase affiliation recreation throughout an look on D.C.-based 106.7 The Fan, Quinn referred to Daniels as a “game-changer”. No different quarterback, together with Williams, obtained such reward.
DANIELS HAD ADVOCATES outdoors of Washington as nicely. Former Arizona State coach Herm Edwards, who recruited Daniels and coached him for 3 years, instructed Peters that Daniels “was a person; do not let his youth idiot you.” One supply stated San Francisco receiver Brandon Aiyuk, an in depth good friend of Daniels’, sang his pal’s praises to Peters. And San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan, with whom Peters labored for seven years, additionally gave Daniels a glowing overview. From that Florida State movie on, nothing modified Washington’s opinion of Daniels. The Commanders spoke to folks from Arizona State, the place Daniels performed three years, and LSU. One supply checked out his highschool transcripts. They requested about his character. Peters additionally appreciated that Daniels had the passcode modified at an LSU facility so he might enter after hours for extra work. He additionally organized 5 a.m. exercises along with his receivers; Washington’s officers had been impressed that he might cajole his teammates to attend at that hour. That, one supply stated, resonated as a lot as something with Peters. The containers saved getting checked in Daniels’ favor. However the curiosity nonetheless went again to his on-field exploits. Like Peters, Quinn stated Washington appreciated the extent of competitors Daniels performed within the SEC, and the sophistication of the defenses he confronted. “They’d appears and various things that Jayden has been in a position to actually course of issues shortly,” Quinn, a former defensive coordinator, stated. “He has an actual decision-making course of that is quick.” Quinn additionally appreciated his expertise. Daniels performed in 55 video games over 5 seasons and began 26 extra video games than McCarthy and 29 greater than Maye. “That is an enormous deal, man, as a result of they’ve seen the s— , they’ve made the error,” Quinn stated. “You do not need to take any person that does not have plenty of snaps.” They considered his switch to LSU as a optimistic. “You may make a case and say he is already needed to undergo a brand new system and new folks and new experiences,” Quinn stated. Daniels felt the Commanders’ love and, after his top-30 go to ended on April 17, Daniels’ agent, Ron Butler, stated Daniels excitedly instructed him, “I am Quinn’s man.” DURING HIS PRIVATE aircraft journey dwelling after his information convention in Washington, Daniels, surrounded by household and associates, spent an hour of the journey pretending to face on the line of scrimmage, calling out checks or performs that he already knew from the Commanders’ playbook. At his introductory information convention, Daniels stated he felt “no strain” to alter Washington’s decades-long historical past of struggles at quarterback, however he is aware of the expectations. Daniels stated he doesn’t take with no consideration the duty of main a struggling franchise again to prominence. He additionally doesn’t assume he can be simply given the beginning job to open the season — although he says he was delivered to Washington “for a motive.” Daniels’ expertise and skill give him an opportunity to begin instantly, a number of sources stated earlier than the draft. “When that point comes, when he is prepared, then that is after we’ll do it. However there is no timeline on that,” Quinn stated. If Daniels doesn’t begin immediately, Washington would go together with Marcus Mariota. Nonetheless, each Quinn and Peters have stated this offseason they need to depend on a robust protection and run recreation to cut back the burden on a rookie quarterback. Additionally they added veteran offensive gamers, akin to tight finish Zach Ertz and working again Austin Ekeler, to minimize the necessity for Daniels to be the chief of the unit immediately. Quite a few NFL coaches imagine Kingsbury’s offense can be good for him. The previous Arizona Cardinals coach has expertise with quarterbacks who can run. Kingsbury likes to make use of run-pass choices and he desires to assault down the sector. Daniels stated he appreciated what Kingsbury needed to say throughout their conferences, however he has additionally watched his offense through the years. “Simply the artistic thoughts that he has on the offensive facet,” Daniels stated of Kingsbury. “How he can assault defenses. Clearly, what he was doing over Arizona, you realize, with [quarterback] Kyler [Murray] and having success. I need to go on the market and I need to achieve success, but it surely comes with placing the work in every day.” “He wasn’t handed something,” Peters stated. “He is earned the whole lot he is bought.” That included being the No. 2 decide within the draft. And on that aircraft journey dwelling, he bought again to work. The Commanders, in the meantime, are happy with their success, understanding what it might imply for the franchise. “We could not be happier,” Peters stated.
