Dan Quinn: Jayden Daniels is a rare competitor

When the Commanders drafted Jaden Daniels with the second overall pick last April, the hope was that he would help the team return to being an NFC contender for years to come.

That hope was misplaced as it only took Daniels a few months to change the fortunes of the franchise. Five straight wins at the end of the regular season put the team back in the playoffs for the first time since the 2020 season, their Wild Card win over the Bucs was their first playoff victory since the 2005 season, and Saturday night’s 45-31 rout of the Lions has in the NFC title game for the first time in 33 years.

Daniels was 22 of 31 for 299 yards and two touchdowns while running for 51 yards in the victory that will make him the sixth rookie running back to start a conference title game. Head coach Dan Quinn tried to explain what makes Daniels stand out during his postgame press conference.

“He just has a different poise about him than most and he is a rare competitorQuinn said. “There is no doubt about that. But in those moments – if he were a basketball player, he would want the last shot. As a player, he wants the ball in his hands to make a difference and makes great decisions with the football. That requires real attention.”

Daniels and the Commanders may have arrived early, but they won’t be sneaking up on anyone anymore because having an elite quarterback is the fastest way to success in the NFL, and the newest addition to that group is in Washington. So it shouldn’t surprise anyone if Daniels becomes the first of those rookies to lead his team all the way to the Super Bowl.