Commanders Go Daniels At Two During Round One

By DJ Harding –

The Washington Commanders had only one pick in the first round that had very big implications towards their future. With the trading of Sam Howell most Washington fans persummed quarterback would be the move and to their delight, the Commanders selected Jayden Daniels.

Daniels the reigning Hiesman winner took his talents from Louisiana State University to the nation’s capitol joining a offense that made the additions of Austin Ekeler and Zach Ertz this offseason.

Daniels spoke to the media after getting selected and said “My childhood dream came true and I’m blessed to be here and hear my name called.” Daniels also mentioned getting to share this moment with two of his closest friends in Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr.

Nabers was selected four picks after Daniels which made them become one of the first schools to have a quarterback receiver duo drafted in the top 10 in the common draft era. Michael Penix Jr and Rome Odunze from the University of Washington were selected eighth and ninth overall joining Nabers and Daniels.

Thomas Jr went later at pick 23 which made the trio the fourth instance of a quarterback and two of his receivers going in the first round joining Alabama in 2021 and 2020 along with LSU in 2007.

Daniels also made a bit of history with first overall selection Caleb Williams becoming the first two selections to both win the heisman since Jamies Winston and Marcus Mariota went first and second in 2015. 

Daniels and Williams also were two of the six quarterbacks drafted in the first twelve picks which tied the record for most quarterbacks drafted in the first round joining the 1983 draft. Of those six quarterbacks five of them went in the top 10 which happened for the first time ever in NFL Draft History.

Despite all the history behind the pick Daniels had one message to the fans “You’re going to get somebody that’s a competitor, that wants to win no matter what. And I just want to go ahead and compete. I want to help the team win football games. At some point in the future, we’ll get this thing turned around, hopefully, but take it day by day. I’m willing to work and put everything out there on the line.”