Former LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels to make NFL debut this weekend

Earlier this week, it was announced that former LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels is officially set to make his NFL debut this weekend vs. the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Saturday. As if that weren’t enough to have fans excited, the rookie signal caller was also most recent listed as the expected starter by the current preseason Washington Commanders depth chart.

Former LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels expected to make NFL preseason debut vs. New York Jets

The time has finally arrived.

After leading his team to a 10-3 overall record, winning the Heisman Trophy and truly taking the world of college football by storm in 2023, former LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels is now just days away from his NFL debut alongside his new Washington Commander teammates.

This is a FANTASTIC rep by Jayden Daniels.

✅The footwork
✅Head up
✅Delivering a strike to the target

This is what you want to see from a rookie quarterback. pic.twitter.com/pHewzPdmF0

— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) July 30, 2024

Daniels was selected by the Commanders with the No. 2 overall draft pick, and to say it was a good choice would be an understatement thus far. Despite plenty of debate about which quarterback would and should be taken, the Washington franchise decided that the former Tiger was the man for them, and since arriving for camp this summer, he’s been the talk of the town.

In fact, he’s been so good up to this point, that he’ll actually be making his debut as soon as week one of the preseason, as Commanders head coach Dan Quinn announced that he’d be taking the field against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium this Saturday.

#Commanders coach Dan Quinn announced today that No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels will play in their first preseason game against the #Jets Saturday at MetLife. Expected, but still ramps up the excitement level.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 4, 2024

There’s a new head signal caller in Washington

For anyone who’s followed the NFL in any capacity over the last decade or so, it’s become a fairly well known fact that the Washington Commanders have struggled when it comes to finding a consistent starting quarterback.

Since 2010, the only player to have held the spot for more than one full season in a row was Kirk Cousins, who was their head signal caller from 2014 (five starts) through 2017.

Now, as we continue to watch as the NFL franchise searches for the future of their offense, it appears that they may view former LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels as the man for the job. After announcing his upcoming debut earlier this week, it was most recently announced that he is the current starter, according to their latest depth chart release.

The Commanders listed Jayden Daniels as QB1 on their first depth chart of the season pic.twitter.com/nbCqEspJ49

— PFF (@PFF) August 6, 2024

In his five seasons at the college level, Daniels recorded an eye-popping 55 starts in his 55 game appearances for Arizona State and LSU, and it was for good reason, too. Having totaled 12,749 yards, 89 touchdowns and 20 interceptions through the air while adding 3,307 yards and 34 touchdowns with his legs, he was about as productive as you’ll ever find in his five years, and he only got better with every additional season of experience.

While there’s no saying just how productive he’ll be as a rookie in the NFL this coming season, there’s little doubt that Washington at the very least hopes to see some flashes of what helped him to an eventual Heisman Trophy victory in 2023.

Ultimately, Daniels has some impressive weapons all around him. With big names such as wide receiver Terry McLaurin, running back Austin Ekeler and tight end Zach Ertz helping to lead the way, the potential for a significant jump in production is certainly there for Washington. For now, it’s just a matter of waiting to see just how well they can mesh, but if the offseason reports have been any indication, fans have every reason to be excited for what they could see during the 2024 NFL season.

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