Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels recently opened up about the controversy surrounding the Washington Commanders’ predraft group visit, where he shared time with fellow prospects Drake Maye, Michael Penix Jr., and J.J. McCarthy.
Despite rumors suggesting otherwise, Daniels emphasized that he harbored no ill feelings about the visit and appreciated the team’s approach.
Jayden Daniels Understanding the Group Visit Experience
Daniels discussed the event on the “All Facts No Brakes” podcast with former NFL wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson. “I was cool with it,” he said, as reported by Fox Sports and Fox News. “I knew all those guys there. I didn’t trip. It just felt like a [college] recruiting visit.
They…didn’t want the visit to be all uptight about football. They wanted to let us have fun because we had been going through this [predraft process] for so long.”
Jayden Daniels Clearing Up Rumors About His Intentions
Speculation arose after the TopGolf outing, hinting that Daniels might have preferred being drafted by a team other than the Commanders. However, he dismissed those rumors and reaffirmed his commitment to playing wherever he is called.
Washington ultimately made him the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. It was just different because it was four of the top five quarterbacks there, which kind of blew up on social media,” Daniels said. “I trained with Mike and J.J. all predraft. I met Drake last summer. So we were all cool.”
Jayden Daniels 2022 vs Florida was almost as good as 2023 pic.twitter.com/QM2ltmJF67
— obvlon (@obvlon) May 1, 2024
Washington Commanders’ Top Choice All Along
Reports indicate that Daniels was Washington’s top quarterback prospect “early in their evaluations and never lost ground” before draft day. The team’s confidence in Daniels was evident throughout the selection process, and now that he’s part of the organization, he remains dedicated to their future.
Looking Forward with Confidence
“A competitor — and a dog,” Daniels said, describing what the Commanders can expect from him. “[I’m] gonna do whatever it takes to win and try to change the trajectory of the franchise. Not necessarily in year one, but hopefully down the road. It’s gonna be a process. I’m someone willing to work.”
Daniels’ commitment will be crucial for Washington, whether he starts immediately or competes with veteran Marcus Mariota for the starting job in Week 1.
With DraftKings Sportsbook listing Daniels tied for second among betting favorites to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award at +650 odds, his journey with the Commanders will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike.
