Jayden Daniels’ Sophomore Setback Doesn’t Tell the Whole Story - And the League Should Know Better
Let’s get one thing straight: the Washington Commanders go as Jayden Daniels goes. That was true during his electric rookie season, and it’s still true now - even after a rocky second year that’s sparked more overreaction than honest analysis.
Daniels didn’t just have a good rookie campaign - he delivered one of the most eye-popping first-year performances we’ve ever seen from a quarterback. He took a team with modest expectations and led them all the way to the NFC Championship Game.
His poise, mobility, and command of the offense had fans and analysts alike wondering if the Commanders had found their franchise quarterback for the next decade. Some were already slotting him into the top-five QB conversation.
That’s how good he was.
But Year 2? It was a different story - and not entirely by his own doing.
Injuries derailed Daniels’ sophomore season, and the Commanders stumbled to a 5-12 finish. That’s the kind of record that invites criticism, and Daniels has taken the brunt of it.
Suddenly, the narrative flipped. He’s being labeled a one-year wonder.
The comparisons to Robert Griffin III have resurfaced. Some are even questioning whether he’s still the guy in D.C.
Let’s pump the brakes.
Yes, there are legitimate concerns. Daniels missed time, and when he did play, he wasn’t the same dynamic force we saw in 2024.
But this isn’t a case of the league “figuring him out” or Daniels losing his touch. It’s a case of expectations being set sky-high after a historic rookie season - and then being used as a measuring stick during a year when he was clearly battling through physical setbacks.
That context matters. And it’s being ignored.
Take the recent Madden 2025 player ratings as an example of how far the pendulum has swung. Daniels dropped to a 79 overall - down six points from last year - and now sits 19th among starting quarterbacks. That puts him behind Bo Nix, behind a 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers coming off a major injury, and barely ahead of names like Daniel Jones and Bryce Young.
That’s not just a dip. That’s a nosedive. And it doesn’t reflect the full picture.
When Daniels was healthy, he was still productive. Outside of his final two games - when he was clearly shaking off rust after returning from injury - he showed flashes of the same QB who lit up defenses a year prior. He moved the ball, made plays with his legs, and kept Washington competitive in games they had no business being in.
But the Madden rating - and the broader narrative around him - isn’t based on what he actually did. It’s based on what people expected him to do.
That’s where the disconnect lies. Daniels is being judged not on performance in a vacuum, but on the gap between last year’s hype and this year’s output.
And that’s a dangerous game.
Meanwhile, other young quarterbacks are getting the benefit of the doubt. Drake Maye, for example, somehow earned a 94 rating after his 2025 campaign with the Patriots - a number that puts him in elite territory.
Daniels, despite leading his team to a Super Bowl appearance just a season prior, was rated an 85 before the year even began. The math doesn’t add up, and neither does the logic.
Sure, it’s just a video game. But these ratings reflect the broader conversation around Daniels - one that’s becoming increasingly skewed by short-term memory and hot-take culture.
The truth? Daniels is still one of the most talented young quarterbacks in the league.
He’s got the arm, the athleticism, and the leadership to bounce back in a big way. And after a season filled with questions, critiques, and comparisons, he’ll have no shortage of motivation heading into Year 3.
The league may have cooled on Jayden Daniels. But don’t be surprised if he heats things back up real soon.