Washington Commanders sign Jayden Daniels; details of his rookie deal are disclosed
After being chosen with the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Jayden Daniels is the Washington Commanders’ key player of the future. He is now formally under contract with the team for his first professional contract.
Daniels agreed to a $37.75 million, four-year contract that was fully guaranteed. The former LSU quarterback will also get a $24.3 million signing bonus.
Following the anticipated No. 1 pick by Chicago in Caleb Williams, Washington was left with Daniels and Drake Maye. Throughout the draft process, there was a lot of discussion about which should be chosen. Ultimately, they chose Daniels because Maye immediately left to sign with the New England Patriots at No. 3.
Daniels declared, “My childhood dream came true,” upon being chosen for the Commanders. “I feel so fortunate to be here and hear my name called.”
GM Adam Peters stated, “We knew it was Jayden for a while and it would have taken a lot for it to not be Jayden.” “We would have run that pick up if we could have run it up.”
After spending five seasons in Tempe with Arizona State and Baton Rouge at LSU, Daniels is now in the nation’s capital. He completed 66.3% of his passes for 12,750 yards, 89 touchdowns, and 20 interceptions during his time as a college quarterback for the Sun Devils and Tigers. He added 34 more touchdowns and over 3,300 yards of rushing.
With Daniels having a career year and being the best player in college football in 2023, that half-decade was emphasized. He led the nation’s top offense, completing 72.2% of passes for 3,812 yards, 40 touchdowns, and just four interceptions. In addition, he scored ten times and gained another 1,134 yards, or 8.4 yards per carry. He was named a consensus all-American and received the Heisman Trophy as a result.
As he approaches his rookie season in Washington, D.C., Daniels has emerged as the team’s face. As of right now, he and the team have reached an agreement on terms, and that includes a respectable salary.
Michael Penix Jr.’s learnings from Kirk Cousins are described by Raheem Morris.
If any rookie quarterback is having a more laid-back NFL debut than Michael Penix Jr., it might be him. After all, nobody anticipates him taking Kirk Cousins’ spot as the Falcons’ starting quarterback.
Penix really just needs to watch the 35-year-old Cousins and study the Falcons playbook. Penix is a rookie and Cousins is starting his 13th season in the NFL, but they are both new to Atlanta.
Earlier this month, Falcons coach Raheem Morris stated, “I think it’s been fun to watch him learn from Kirk.” The cool thing, in my opinion, is that he’s content to remain in the background and watch as Kirk goes about fulfilling his obligations and being true to himself. When Cousins calls a play, he can bring his own personality to the table by interacting with the guys post-huddle.
To win more than seven games, the Falcons need a good quarterback.
After failing to get Atlanta past 7-10 for the previous three seasons, coach Arthur Smith was let go by the Falcons in January. Everyone agreed that the team required a better quarterback. Thus, Cousins, the former Viking, inked a large contract with the Falcons. The quarterback has signed a lucrative four-year contract worth $180 million, of which $100 million is guaranteed. Cousins can end his NFL career in the Atlanta Falcons if everything goes according to plan.
On the opening night of the NFL Draft, though, the Washington star and Heisman runner-up Penix was selected by the Falcons with the eighth overall pick, shocking everyone. The majority of draft experts anticipated Atlanta would select No. 8 for defense. Rather, they adopted Penix, the
It’s likely that the other five will be expected to begin this season. Caleb Williams was selected first overall by the Bears, who had traded starter Justin Fields to the Steelers. The Commanders selected LSU standout and Heisman winner Jayden Daniels with the second pick after sending starter Sam Howell to Seattle. Then, at No. 3, the Patriots selected Drake Maye of Carolina. They had previously dealt the starting quarterback for the previous three seasons, Mac Jones, to the Jaguars.
The Vikings traded up for J.J. McCarthy of Michigan after Penix. Minnesota needs a player to take Cousins’ place. Then, at No. 12, the Broncos selected Bo Nix of Oregon. Six weeks prior to the draft, Russell Wilson, the starter for Denver, was let go.
So, unless Cousins experiences complications with his recuperation from Achilles surgery, Atlanta does not have a dire need at quarterback. When he signed with the Falcons, Cousins informed reporters that he should be fully recovered by June or at the latest July’s training camp.
Morris instructed Penix to observe every aspect of Cousins, including his interactions with teammates and play calling.
Morris remarked, “I like how Mike was able to take that from him.” “Seeing how he breaks the huddle and gets his guys outside and relate it to them.” The ball must then be able to be thrown where it needs to go, break the snap, and emerge efficiently.
After scouts watched Penix play against Texas in the College Football Playoff semifinals, the Falcons targeted him as a possible first round pick. The team sent a group to his pro day at Washington after watching him closely at the NFL Combine.
The new offensive coordinator for the Falcons, Zac Robinson, a former quarterback for Oklahoma State, knew they had their man.
Robinson told reporters, “There were several times during the process when you realize that he is a special quarterback.”
