History doesn’t repeat, but it often rhymes. Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels is turning this saying into truth with his performances, which are reminiscent of C.J. Stroud’s last year.
Both quarterbacks were the No. 2 overall pick in their respective draft classes and outshone the No. 1 pick. And like Stroud, Daniels is also heading towards an Offensive Rookie of the Year accolade. Yet, NFL analyst Danny Parkins believes Daniels’ year has been far better.
Danny Parkins Argues Jayden Daniels Has Eclipsed C.J. Stroud’s Rookie Season
Last season, the Houston Texans man registered 4,108 passing yards for 23 touchdowns, as well as 167 yards on the ground with three additional scores. In comparison, Daniels — with one game in hand — has 3,530 passing yards for 25 touchdowns, along with 864 rushing yards and six TDs.
However, during his appearance on FS1’s “Breakfast Ball,” Parkins didn’t even focus on these stats to lay down his argument.
“What Jayden Daniels is doing is, honestly, it’s more impressive than what C.J. Stroud did last year,” he said.
“What Jayden Daniels is doing, is honestly more impressive than what C.J. Stroud did last year.” @DannyParkins is AMAZED by Daniels' stellar rookie season pic.twitter.com/1kB7h4cJPb
— Breakfast Ball (@BrkfstBallOnFS1) December 30, 2024
“Like, this is one of the truly great rookie quarterback seasons we’ve seen, from like what the Commanders were to what he’s turned them into…They are the best fourth-down team in the NFL since 2018.
“A rookie quarterback being asked to do that in those spots and delivering 100% of the time, it just gives them a very high ceiling, because clearly they trust him to execute in any situation.”
Playoff Glory Has Daniels and Commanders Fans Excited
Daniels isn’t the type of person to hide his emotions, and they were certainly on display after the Commanders beat the Atlanta Falcons 30-24 in overtime. With the win, Washington secured itself a playoff spot in the Wild Card — the team’s first postseason berth in four years.
“The fan base waited a long time for this,” Daniels said to the press after the game. “I really can’t put it into words how much it means to them and how much it means to me, being able to go out there and lead this franchise, this team, to opportunities like that.”
The Commanders still have a meeting with the Dallas Cowboys left before embarking on their postseason journey. Daniels will be looking to continue establishing himself as the best offensive rookie this year.