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John Keim, ESPN Staff Writer
ASHBURN, Va., — Quarterback Jayden Daniels new Washington Commanders‘ teammates and coaches have shared, quite often, how impressed they are after his first offseason. The one person who isn’t buying into the hype: Daniels himself.
“I ain’t a star quarterback yet,” he said, responding to a question about getting some perks of a franchise quarterback. “I got long way to go. I’m a rookie.”
Washington selected Daniels second overall with the hope of his being part of a franchise revival. The Commanders have not had a winning season since 2016 and have made the postseason just six times since 1999, last winning a playoff game after the 2005 season. Daniels has already thrown out the first pitch at a Washington Nationals game, among other honors that go to the potential face of a franchise, especially one coming off a Heisman Trophy season at LSU.
Meanwhile, teammates have universally praised him.
“Dude can sling it, man,” right tackle Andrew Wylie said. “He makes it look easy; something about his game is just special. … He is smiling, calling plays, making sure everyone’s on the same page, and it’s a special way that he commands the huddle and the respect of the group. I know it’s early, but I’m excited blocking for him.”
But from the time Daniels arrived in Washington, he has preached the same message: He just wants to do his job and is not elevating himself to any status other than rookie. He said he’s working on “everything.” He arrives to the facility daily around 5:45 a.m., watches film and does walk-throughs in the practice bubble with rookie receiver Luke McCaffrey. Daniels has picked the brain of veterans such as linebacker Bobby Wagner.
“If you really, really want to be successful, you want to learn, you want to be a pro at the highest level,” Daniels said, “you got to take knowledge of people, learn from their routines. …
“I just want to learn how to go out there and be a pro. And I’m just trying to soak up as much knowledge as possible.”