Sports

The NFL Rookie Sensation Everyone Wants a Piece of

As part of a 2024 draft class that saw six exciting quarterbacks picked in the first round, it would always be tough to predict who would be the breakout star. In hindsight, it looks pretty easy. Jayden Daniels drafted No.2 overall, is on the verge of completing one of the most remarkable seasons in NFL history.

After his first bunch of games as a starter for the Washington Commanders, pundits were talking about Daniels being one of the best rookies in the league; by the time he led Washington to a first NFC Championship Game, there was talk of Daniels being considered among the NFL’s best players. Period.

Daniels was a standout player in college, winning the 2023 Heisman Trophy, Walter Camp Award, and several other accolades. He was selected behind Caleb Williams (drafted by the Bears) at No.2 overall. Yet, while Williams has struggled for the Bears, Daniels has taken to life in the big leagues like a duck to water. There is a serious discussion about his performances meriting the tag of best rookie season in football history.

The rookie that changed the Commanders’ fortunes

 Of course, it helps that Daniels was part of a winning team. Few took the Commanders seriously at the start of the regular season, but with each Daniels-inspired victory, we saw Washington’s Super Bowl odds shorten. The underdog journey the Commanders have been on has been among the best in recent football history. Not all of it is down to their young quarterback, but he has become the talisman for a team on the rise.

With star performances, there comes extra scrutiny and pressure, of course. The media loves the idea of “the next big thing,” Daniels fits that profile, being viewed almost like a pop star. Yet, the constant praise, the speculation of where his career will go, and the press gaggles looking for post-game interviews all heaps pressure upon young shoulders.

The Commanders’ management has done a good job protecting Daniels from all the attention. In saying that, he is affable and engaging in front of reporters and has a lot of confidence in his abilities while keeping his feet on the ground.

Potential to be a modern great

Yet, it is the case of an exceptional athlete who gets almost as much attention as a generational star like Lebron James at an early age. While he was not entirely given the ‘chosen one’ status like the NBA legend, consider that Daniels signed Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals with brands like Powerade and Beats before leaving college.

He also had a high school football stadium named after him and was given the key to his hometown of San Bernadino. It’s worth remembering that this youngster has played fewer than 20 NFL games. In the end, though, that’s what fans and the media love to see: A rising star for whom the sky is the limit.

There have been plenty of cautionary tales in the past of athletes who rise too quickly, but Daniels knows he has the world at his feet and seems to be able to cope with all the pressure that brings. There’s a long way to go before we start comparing him to NFL legends like Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Brett Favre, and Johnny Unitas, but he has made quite the start.

Sarah C. Burdett

I hail from Baytown in the American South. Reading is my passion; it broadens my understanding of the world. Sharing is my joy; I hope my content brings you delightful experiences. In a world rushing you to grow up, I aspire to protect the fairy tale within your heart with my words.

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