One of the NFL’s hottest draft picks Jayden Daniels says he is more than happy to compete for the starting quarterback spot.
The young rookie was taken second overall by the Washington Commanders in the 2024 draft but was not given the status as the primary ball thrower during the franchise’s training camp.
General manager Adam Peters and coach Dan Quinn rotated Daniels and Marcus Mariota during practice but the 23-year-old is not worried about cementing his place.
He was in the same spot with his college team at LSU and went on to win the Heisman trophy.
But now he is in the big leagues and may face a tougher challenge, especially if he does not hit the ground running straight away.
Speaking to the media, Daniels said: “I like competing. Regardless if I’m announced as the starter or not I still have to compete.
LIVE: QB Jayden Daniels speaks to the media after Day 3 of camp https://t.co/hTY3G4Hfxi
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) July 26, 2024
“You can’t be content with your job or [be] comfortable. So for me it’s not a problem at all.
“It’s up to DQ and AP for the decision but for me I can control how hard I practice and I compete.
“It’s just playing football and knowing where I go, being decisive and learning different coverages and teams.
“When the joint practices come, learning the different coverages. You get to go against other people and see where you stand as far as, ‘Maybe I can make this throw. … I could hold onto this a little longer or this window might be a little tighter than other ones I’ve seen before.
“It’s a learning curve. I’m excited to go out there and learn and if I fail a little bit, I’ll learn from it.”
Daniels has looked strong during the first three days of camp, connecting with running back Jeremy McNichols and wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley.
However, Quinn says there is no rush for him to pick the star quarterback and wants to see the full capabilities of both Daniels and Mariota throughout August.
He added: “We have an effective plan for him and Jayden is the type of guy who wants to go nail it.
“We’ll stay true to this. We’re not too far down the line of where we’re headed and we’re staying in the moment with him and that helps. He’s doing outstanding.”
