It’s not every day you see a rookie quarterback being compared to NFL royalty, but that’s exactly what’s happening with Jayden Daniels of the Washington Commanders. Ahead of his Jan. 18 Divisional Round matchup against the Detroit Lions, a viral photo of Daniels meeting seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady had fans buzzing on social media.
NFL Fans Rejoice Over Tom Brady-Jayden Daniels Handshake
The snapshot of two legends — one established and one rising — was seen by fans as the ultimate passing of the torch. Fans were in awe of the Brady-Daniels handshake. One fan posted a meme. Have a look:
Tom Brady: I'm passing the torch to you…
Jayden Daniels: pic.twitter.com/ABMiz2iL1N
— JD5MVPSZN🔥🔥🔥 (@Lennyfrigginleo) January 18, 2025
One user wrote, “Two legends in one frame”
“GOAT meets rising star!” said another.
Another posted, “Daniels has that Brady-Mahomes composure, impressive for a rookie.”
“Great to see Brady connecting with young talent. Daniels has that special something – reminds me a bit of Lamar in college,” commented another, harkening praise with a comparison to MVP-winner Lamar Jackson.
One more user said, “The best small chat an emerging QB can have!”
Fresh off a thrilling Wild Card victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Daniels has been a revelation this season. Against the Buccs, he gave a glimpse of his potential, completing 24 of 35 passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns while orchestrating a game-winning drive.
His performance throughout the season has earned him a B- grade in PFN’s QB+ metric. His efficiency under pressure, 0.54 expected points added per dropback (EPA/DB), was the best of Wild Card Weekend. For the season, Daniels’ stats paint the picture of a remarkable rookie year. He boasts a QB+ rating of 85.3 in the regular season and 86.1 when combining the playoffs, ranked ninth and fifth, respectively.
Daniels’ consistency has been evident, with only one game graded below a C- all year. He finished eighth in EPA/DB (0.15) and ninth from a clean pocket (0.30), while his ability to deliver under pressure earned him the sixth spot (-0.11).
Across 18 starts, he’s thrown for 3,836 yards, 27 touchdowns, and nine interceptions, adding 937 rushing yards and six scores on the ground, displaying his dual-threat capability. Now, the rookie is tasked with leading his red-hot Commanders, currently on a six-game winning streak, into Detroit as 8.5-point underdogs.
MORE: Jayden Daniels’ Powerful 10-Word Message Turns Heads Ahead of Playoff Clash with Lions
The buzz surrounding Daniels isn’t just fan hype. NFL analysts and players are singing his praises, with Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons comparing him to Patrick Mahomes and Brady a couple of days ago.
“In every moment, it just seems like he’s never fazed,” Parsons said. “We’ve only seen two guys in the league that aren’t fazed like that when it matters the most — Mahomes and Brady.”
"He's never fazed… like Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady." @MicahhParsons11 giving rookie Jayden Daniels the highest of praise đź‘€
New @InsidetheNFL tonight at 9 ET on The CW pic.twitter.com/aZtWRd6fea
— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) January 15, 2025
For a rookie to earn that kind of respect says a lot about Daniels’ potential. He holds the record for the highest pass completion percentage by a rookie in a single game, completing 91.3% of his passes in Week 3. Brady held this record previously. As Daniels prepares for the biggest game of his rookie season, all eyes will be on him — whether he can extend Washington’s run or fall short to a tough Lions team.