With the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Washington Commanders selected quarterback Jayden Daniels. Here’s everything you need to know about the Heisman Trophy winner and his journey to the NFL.
How Tall Is Jayden Daniels?
While most NFL prospects get measured at the NFL Combine, Daniels opted out of the official measurements. However, during his pro day, he was measured at 6’3 5/8″ after being listed at 6’4″ throughout his collegiate career.
The tallest quarterbacks in the NFL are currently Justin Herbert, Trevor Lawrence, and Tanner McKee (all are 6’6″). The shortest QBs are Kyler Murray and Bryce Young, who are each 5’10”.
How Much Does Daniels Weigh?
At his pro day, Daniels weighed in at 210 pounds. This puts him slightly below average for an NFL quarterback, with the average weight being 225 pounds for the position.
The lightest quarterback in the league is Young, who weighed in at 204 pounds, while heaviest QB is Anthony Richardson at 245 pounds.
How Old Is Daniels?
Daniels was born on Dec. 18, 2000, so he’s 23 years old and will turn 24 later in his rookie campaign. Daniels spent five seasons in college, so he’s older than fellow rookies Drake Maye and Caleb Williams, who are both 22 years old. However, he’s younger than fellow rookies Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr., who are both 24.
What School Did Daniels Go To?
Daniels was born and raised in San Bernardino, Calif. He attended Cajon High School, where he became a four-star recruit in the 2019 class, according to 247Sports. He was ranked as the best dual-threat quarterback in the nation.
Daniels committed to Arizona State, where he spent the first three years of his college career. However, things fell apart, and he entered the transfer portal, taking his talents to Baton Rouge to play for the LSU Tigers.
Revisiting Daniels’ College Career
In 2019, Daniels was a 6’3″, 175-pound true freshman at Arizona State who showed promise in his first year with 2,943 yards, 17 touchdowns, and just two picks.
Ironically, the same year Daniels introduced himself to college football, another LSU quarterback was experiencing a revolutionary career resurgence and NFL Draft rise: Joe Burrow.
Daniels made the same Burrow leap at LSU four years later, but his path wasn’t linear.
A COVID-19-shortened 2020 season interrupted Daniels’ flow out of 2019, and in 2021, the entire offense regressed, with him passing for 10 touchdowns and 10 interceptions on 301 attempts.
After that season, Daniels transferred to LSU for a fresh start.
LSU QB Jayden Daniels was a do it all player. Here’s just under 5 minutes of his highlights at LSU.
🐯78 Total TDs
🐯7 INTs
🐯8,749 Total YardsShould be a sure first round NFL draft pick. pic.twitter.com/Q3bUyLgKAp
— College Football Alerts (@CFBAlerts_) January 12, 2024
Daniels’ move to LSU was met with some criticism, but the Tigers turned out to be the best thing for him — and vice versa. Daniels got some of his 2019 magic back in 2022, helping the Tigers win the SEC West, and in 2023, he reached ultimate stardom.
In a campaign that won him the Heisman Trophy, Daniels completed 236 of 327 attempts (72.2%) for 3,812 yards, 40 touchdowns, and just four interceptions. Meanwhile, on the ground, he rushed for 1,134 yards and 10 additional scores.
In addition to the Heisman, Daniels won the Walter Camp Award, AP College Football Player of the Year, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, Davey O’Brien Award, Manning Award, and SN Player of the Year. He was also a consensus All-American and earned first-team All-SEC honors and SEC Offensive Player of the Year.
With little anticipation, Daniels ended up producing one of the most explosive dual-sided QB seasons in college football history. And not only did he forge a legacy for himself, but he also solidified his stock as a true first-round 2024 NFL Draft prospect.
How Fast Is Daniels?
Daniels didn’t run the 40-yard dash or do any athletic testing at the NFL Combine or during his LSU Pro Day. While at Arizona State, he ran a 4.5 40-yard dash, but it certainly seems he has gotten faster since then.
During LSU’s SEC battle against Florida in 2023, Daniels hit 21.8 miles per hour on his 85-yard touchdown run, according to Reel Analytics.
College Football’s Fastest Five of the Week:
2. @LSUfootball QB Jayden Daniels (@JayD__5) 21.8 mph #ReelSpeed
🎥: @ESPNCFB pic.twitter.com/2gKH9f4LVG
— Reel Analytics (@RAanalytics) November 13, 2023
For reference, the fastest speeds recorded in the NFL this season are Jacksonville Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr. (22.15 mph), Detroit Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs (22.03), Philadelphia Eagles RB Saquon Barkley (21.93), Houston Texans WR Nico Collins (21.89), and Minnesota Vikings WR Jordan Addison (21.80).
Daniels’ Pre-Draft Scouting Report
Strengths
- Turbocharged athlete with rare speed, lateral agility, bend, and evasive twitch.
- Platinum-grade big-play generator with his running ability and deep passing chops.
- Has a quick, compact, and efficient release and can flick the ball with little wind-up.
- Has an above-average arm and can generate good velocity up intermediate seams.
- Has enough arm talent to layer velocity and touch on vertical routes and slot fades.
- Able to progress through full-field reads and process leverage quickly in succession.
- Knows how to use eyes to drag single-high safeties out of crossing lanes and capitalize.
- He can anticipate in-breaking routes and lead WRs into the open field with pace.
- Instinctively IDs speed and leverage mismatches deep, with touch to take advantage.
- Flashes incredible placement on loft and back-shoulder throws, throwing to WR leverage.
- Twitched-up pocket operator who recalibrates on reads and slides to open windows.
- Generally has great feel for when to stand in the pocket and when to evade outside.
- Doesn’t get scared off his spot and can deliver passes with rushers bearing down.
- Crisp rhythm passer who can reliably operate the quick-game and RPO looks.
- True competitor with steely toughness off-script and poise against free rushers.
Weaknesses
- Has a very slender and narrow frame that could invite long-term durability concerns.
- Arm strength, while solid, is visibly non-elite, limiting top-end velocity.
- Non-elite velocity can sometimes allow DBs time to close ground on comebacks.
- Doesn’t have the high-end arm elasticity to modulate his release and keep pace.
- Hyperactive base sometimes leaves him in the lurch on release, sapping at base load.
- Can get held up as a processor over the middle, inducing hesitation and delayed reads.
- Has room to be more consistent as an anticipatory drive thrower working tight windows.
- Can improve at adapting when post-snap coverages conflict with pre-snap diagnosis.
- Situational precision, while elite at its peak, can be volatile on RAC and breaker throws.
- Frame translates to a dire lack of play strength working through tackles as a creator.
- Can be reckless as a creator and needs to be better about preserving himself at contact.
- Sometimes tries to do too much on scrambles, diverting infield and boxing himself in.
