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Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels was listed as the team's first string quarterback on its first depth chart ahead of the 2024 NFL season and will start in the preseason opener against the New York Jets on Saturday (August 6), ESPN's John Keim reported on Tuesday (August 6).
Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said Daniels ""surpassed my expectations of the readiness, of the command" of the quarterback position and wasn't surprised the former Heisman Trophy winner already knows the system given his work ethic and how teammates gravitate toward him.
Daniels, 23, was selected by the Commanders at No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The former LSU standout led all SEC quarterbacks in passing yards per game (317.7) and touchdowns (40), while also ranking second in passing yards (3,812) and recording 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns on 135 rushing attempts in 2023. Daniels, who began his career at Arizona State before transferring in 2022, won numerous awards during his final collegiate season including Heisman Trophy, Walter Camp Award, Davey O'Brien Award, Manning Award, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, SEC Offensive Player of the Year, Associated Press College Football Player of the Year and Sporting News College Football Player of the Year while being selected as a consensus All-American.