Commanders HC: Jayden Daniels Making Progress Ahead of 'Competition' for QB1 Job

Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn isn't going to name a starting quarterback for the 2024 season right now, but he's making it known that Jayden Daniels is making strides during minicamp.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Quinn said there's "no doubt" Daniels has made great progress with the "competition" for the starting job expected to continue going into training camp.

After the Commanders used the No. 2 pick in the 2024 draft on Daniels, Quinn spoke about the traits that sold him on the reigning Heisman Trophy winner.

"Over the past two months when I found out what was behind the rib cage ... This guy is tough. He is competitive," Quinn told Zach Selby of the team's official website.

There's no reason to think Daniels won't win the job unless he falls on face throughout training camp and the preseason. Marcus Mariota, Jeff Driskel and rookie Sam Hartman are the other quarterbacks on Washington's roster.

Mariota has 74 games of starting experience in the NFL, but he's never proven himself to be a difference-maker. There's a reason he has played on five different teams in 10 seasons, including four in each of the past four years when he suits up for the Commanders.

The only potential concern for the Commanders has nothing to do with Daniels, but the state of the offensive line. They cut left tackle Charles Leno Jr. in March, leaving them with Cornelius Lucas or 2023 fourth-round pick Braeden Daniels likely to fill the position.

Nick Allegretti and Tyler Biadasz give them capable starters at left guard and center.

Daniels will have the luxury of playing with a good group of skill-position players. Terry McLaurin has put up four straight 1,000-yard seasons, despite having eight different starting quarterbacks during that span.

Brian Robinson Jr. racked up a career-high 1,101 yards from scrimmage and nine total touchdowns last season.

New offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury will be tasked with helping to develop Daniels like he did Kyler Murray during his time as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals.

Everything the Commanders have done this offseason seems designed to make life as easy as possible for Daniels as a rookie. He just has to wait for them to officially name him their starting quarterback.