PALMER: A star is emerging in Washington

By Hunt Palmer

The argument can be made that ownership and quarterback are the two most important positions in an NFL organization.

Sure, it’s nice to have a competent defensive coordinator and left tackle. The head coach needs to lead the team. But the owner creates the culture, and the quarterback has the football half of the game.

The Washington Commanders made changes to both positions entering the 2024 season, and the early returns are transformational.

During Daniel Snyder’s 25 years at the top, the franchise changed names more often than it won playoff games—2-1. New ownership hasn’t had an opportunity to reach the postseason yet, but the entire aura around the Commanders has changed in the course of seven days.

Last Monday night Jayden Daniels outdueled Joe Burrow on a national stage, and his encore was a pasting of Arizona, 42-14. The former-Tiger turned No. 2 overall pick completed 26-of-30 passes for 233 yards and a touchdown. He added 47 yards and another score on the ground.

The Commanders haven’t punted since Week 2. They’re the first NFL team since 2000 to score on every drive for two weeks.

“Jayden Daniels is the best quarterback in the NFC right now!”

—@damienwoody 👀 pic.twitter.com/NO8z6xpeQ6

— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) September 30, 2024

Every trait Daniels displayed during his surgical Heisman season a year ago has translated to the NFL field.

He finished seventh in the country in completion percentage last year at 72.2 percent. He leads the NFL after a month at 82 percent. That’s the highest number in league history through four games. Ther only two quarterbacks in that zip code with Tom Brady in 2007 and Peyton Manning in 2008. Both won the MVP.

His 10 rushing touchdowns as a quarterback were topped by only Jalen Milroe in the SEC. He’s got four in four weeks in the NFL, joining Robert Griffin III, Cam Newton and Anthony Richardson as the only quarter in league history to pull that off.

The Tigers led the country in scoring offense last year. Washington has now scored 30 points in back-to-back games for the first time since 2017.

Daniels creates nightmares for opposing defenses. He’s decisive and deadly accurate from the pocket, plus he’s faster than almost all defensive ends and linebackers. When he doesn’t beat you through the air, he can take what’s given on the ground.

And he doesn’t turn the ball over.

Last season only three college quarterbacks threw the ball more often than Dainels with fewer interceptions. Through four NFL starts, Daniels has only thrown one pick.

He faced pressure on 13 dropbacks Sunday. He was 10-for-10 for 96 yards and a touchdown. He ran the other three for positive yards and was not sacked.

Jayden Daniels avoided sacks, went through progressions, and made throws over the middle of the field in another big win in Week 4 pic.twitter.com/9YTOduGe2k

— Shawn Syed (@SyedSchemes) September 29, 2024

Opposing defenses will adjust, and adversity in the NFL is inevitable. Those truths don’t change.

Four games don’t make a career. They don’t make a season. They do make an impression.

A franchise mired in mediocrity and enveloped in embarrassment for better than two decades now has a clear beacon of hope.

Daniels looks the part of a franchise pillar in a town that’s been desperate for change.