Jayden Daniels Still Has the Juice - and Chris Canty Knows It
The NFL doesn’t wait around for anyone. In a league that lives and breathes on the "what have you done for me lately?"
mantra, the Washington Commanders’ 2025 season was a stark reminder of how quickly fortunes can flip. One year after making a stunning run to the NFC Championship Game, Dan Quinn’s squad limped to just five wins - undone by a rash of injuries, aging veterans who couldn’t hold the line, and a confidence level that seemed to drain with every passing week.
At the center of it all was Jayden Daniels. The electric young quarterback who lit up the league as a rookie became a ghost in Year 2 - not by choice, but by circumstance.
A trio of injuries - a hamstring strain, a sprained knee, and a dislocated elbow - limited him to just seven appearances, only four of which he finished. And while Daniels pushed to return late in the season, the Commanders made the right call by shutting him down.
At that point, there was nothing left to play for but pride.
Still, the narrative around Daniels has taken a hit. That’s what happens in a league that moves this fast.
While he rehabbed, Caleb Williams led the Bears to an NFC North title and a playoff berth. Drake Maye?
He took the AFC by storm and marched the Patriots all the way to the Super Bowl. And just like that, Daniels - the same guy who nearly led Washington to the big game as a rookie - was suddenly fighting for air in the court of public opinion.
But not everyone’s forgotten what this kid can do.
Former NFL defensive lineman and current ESPN analyst Chris Canty recently dropped his list of the top five quarterbacks in the NFC heading into the 2026 offseason. No surprise at No.
1 - Matthew Stafford, fresh off an MVP season. But what turned heads was who Canty slotted right behind him: Jayden Daniels.
Yes, that Jayden Daniels.
Daniels landed at No. 2 on Canty’s list, ahead of rising stars and playoff performers like Caleb Williams, who came in at No. 5.
For Canty, the reasoning was simple: when Daniels was healthy and on the field, he looked like that guy. His rookie postseason run wasn’t a fluke - it was a preview.
The moment wasn’t too big for him then, and it won’t be moving forward.
That ranking stirred up plenty of debate across social media - as these things tend to do - but Canty’s stance is rooted in what he saw with his own eyes. Daniels has already proven he can elevate a team. Now it’s about staying healthy and adapting to the next phase of his career.
Enter David Blough.
The Commanders’ new offensive coordinator is installing a pro-style system that should help Daniels take the next step. Expect to see more snaps from under center, a more structured approach to the passing game, and, ideally, fewer plays that expose Daniels to unnecessary hits. That’s a key piece of his evolution - learning how to protect himself without dulling the edge that makes him so dangerous.
Let’s be clear: Daniels needs more help around him. That much is obvious.
The offensive line has to be better. The skill-position talent needs to step up.
And the defense has to give him a chance to play from ahead, not constantly chase games. But if those pieces come together - and if Daniels can stay on the field - there’s no reason he can’t remind everyone why he was the talk of the league just a year ago.
Canty’s not betting against him. Neither should you.