C.J. Stroud: Commanders' Jayden Daniels Has Had NFL's 'Best Rookie Year of All-Time'

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is impressed with Jayden Daniels going as far as the NFC Championship Game in his rookie season with the Washington Commanders.

"I'm so proud of him. In my opinion, he's had the best rookie year of all-time," Stroud said Monday.

Stroud continued: "We talk a lot, and I'm just very, very, very, very, very happy for him, and very proud of him. I don't root for many other teams, but I'm rooting for my boy. I'm rooting for the Commanders."

Stroud and the Texans were eliminated from the Divisional round Saturday by the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs. Daniels and the Commanders upset the top-seeded Detroit Lions later the same day to reach the NFC title game.

Daniels responded to being on the biggest stage of his career by going 22-of-31 with 299 yards and two touchdowns in Detroit. He threw no interceptions, took no sacks, and finished with a passer rating of 122.9.

He especially excelled against the blitz, going 12-of-16 for 191 yards and a touchdown.

Daniels heads into the NFC Championship Game having recorded 567 passing yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions, while adding 87 yards on 29 carries through two playoff wins.

Stroud told reporters Daniels' success is especially meaningful for kids in California. Stroud, who hails from Rancho Cucamonga, and Daniels, who grew up in San Bernardino, are both from the Southern part of the state.

"I'm so happy for that dude, not only just for him. The motivation that he's giving, back home where we come from, you have no idea," Stroud said.

Stroud continued: "It's giving kids back home hope that they can do it, too."

Daniels is set to become the NFL's sixth rookie quarterback to start a conference championship game next weekend.

If he is able to lead the Commanders to victory over the Philadelphia Eagles' dangerous pass rush, he would become the first of those six signal-callers to win one.

Daniels excelled in the Commanders' last matchup with the Eagles on Dec. 22, during which he passed for five touchdowns during a Week 16 win. If he is able to repeat that performance on Sunday, he could become the first quarterback to cap off his first NFL season by starting in the Super Bowl.