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NFL | Dec 23

Jayden Daniels Is the NFL’s True MVP in 2024

Daniels Is Thriving in the NFL, Surpassing Everyone’s Expectations and Making the Commanders Relevant

Jayden Daniels Is the NFL’s True MVP in 2024
Jayden Daniels #5 of the Washington Commanders - Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Images/AFP

The Case for Daniels

No one else is blowing away expectations like Daniels with the Washington Commanders.

The NFL news about the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award has seemingly lost the plot in 2024. It’s bad enough that people want to nominate a quarterback in Joe Burrow who has had a losing record since Week 1, but let’s not forget the spontaneous push of Saquon Barkley if he reaches a round number of rushing yards.

As if we don’t have six seasons of data that Barkley never lifted the lowly Giants before joining an annual playoff team with an elite offensive line.

But after watching Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson defer to running backs James Cook and Derrick Henry—their defenses won for them this weekend—it’s about time we had an honest discussion about what MVP really means.

Why isn’t Jayden Daniels near the very top of the NFL MVP odds? Forget Offensive Rookie of the Year, an award he’s a lock to win. Daniels might be the NFL’s true MVP in 2024.

 

Jayden Daniels: Value-Added Player

Other than Sam Darnold and the Vikings, no one else is blowing away expectations like Daniels with the Washington Commanders. Their preseason win total was 6.5, and they are 10-5 with a shot at 12-5.

Keep in mind, Washington is the only NFL franchise that hasn’t won 11 games since 1991. Daniels has made this team relevant and exciting—a monumental task—and he is doing it as a rookie at the sport’s toughest position.

NFL rumors said Daniels was too reckless as a college runner, but he’s thriving as an NFL dual-threat. The Commanders’ defense is only 24th in points per drive allowed and still likely heading to the playoffs thanks to the offensive efficiency.

Daniels is also elevating his receivers to career years led by Terry McLaurin, who never had more than seven touchdowns before catching his 12th yesterday.

This offense is built on cast-offs like Zach Ertz, Austin Ekeler, Noah Brown, and even offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury is an NFL reclamation project that Daniels is elevating.

 

Jayden Daniels’ Stats and Records

A rib injury that led to a short slump will likely cost Daniels MVP votes he deserves. But for the season, Daniels is still No. 4 in QBR (71.9) and he leads his offense in rushing yards (737).

He led the Commanders on 16 straight scoring drives (excluding kneeldowns) earlier this season, the longest known streak in NFL history. He set a rookie record when he completed 91.3% of his passes against Cincinnati. He helped the team set the record for fewest giveaways (3) through nine games.

Iconic Moments

If you need your MVP to have iconic moments, Daniels has delivered them this season. Recall his coming out party against the Bengals:

The Hail Mary finish against Chicago is a Play of the Year candidate:

If not for a missed extra point, this 86-yard touchdown to McLaurin would have been another huge Daniels moment:

Then on Sunday, Daniels overcame five turnovers from his offense and threw five touchdown passes against the Eagles’ stingy defense in a comeback win, including this game-winning throw with 0:06 left:

Allen and Jackson have been to the playoffs many times over with good rosters. Is there not more value in a rookie lifting a team to relevancy like Daniels has?

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