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.
Career highs with Jayden Daniels as their QB in 2024:
Terry McLaurin – Succ%, Catch%, Yds/Target, TD
Zach Ertz – Succ%
Noah Brown – Succ%
Olamide Zaccheaus – Catch%
Dyami Brown – Catches, Rec. Yards, Succ%, Catch%Succ% is receiving success rate
— Scott Kacsmar (@ScottKacsmar) December 23, 2024
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.
The only QBs in NFL history to score 18+ points in their first 15 starts:
Kurt Warner
Patrick Mahomes
Jayden Daniels https://t.co/OB7ELbiPvL— Scott Kacsmar (@ScottKacsmar) December 22, 2024
Jayden Daniels’ FOUR passing TDs in the final 30 seconds of the fourth quarter/OT is the most by any player in a season since the merger 😱
Never count out the rookie 🔥 @Commanders pic.twitter.com/sXVF4FWEq7
— ESPN (@espn) December 22, 2024
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:
That’s the right call by the Bengals, too. Make him make one of the best throws you’ll see, and Jayden Daniels did it
— Steve Palazzolo (@StevePalazzolo_) September 24, 2024
The Hail Mary finish against Chicago is a Play of the Year candidate:
JAYDEN DANIELS WITH A HAIL MARY TO BEAT THE BEARS AS TIME EXPIRES 🤯
WHAT HAVE WE JUST WITNESSED?!?!?!
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/xuSQsWlODR
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 27, 2024
If not for a missed extra point, this 86-yard touchdown to McLaurin would have been another huge Daniels moment:
JAYDEN DANIELS TO TERRY MCLAURIN NO WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!
86 YARDS! pic.twitter.com/T3ITuxRk0c
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 24, 2024
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:
JAYDEN DANIELS TO JAMISON CROWDER FOR THE WIN!!!!!
WHAT. A. GAME. 🤯
(via @NFL)
pic.twitter.com/DE9KxJRhmO— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 22, 2024
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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