The quarterback debate from the 2024 draft class is already shifting, and Jayden Daniels is the one who has to answer it.
Caleb Williams and Daniels were taken first and second overall, and their names keep landing next to each other. The latest example came in ESPN’s annual quarterback rankings, a survey compiled from league executives, coaches, and scouts. Williams finished 10th, just ahead of the honorable mentions group that included Daniels, Sam Darnold of the Seattle Seahawks, and Jordan Love of the Green Bay Packers.
Jeremy Fowler, who runs the survey, said the vote between those four was tight enough that it had to be settled with tiebreakers based on “gathering input from several general managers and executives.” That input pushed Williams over the top because, as Fowler put it, “he’s the hardest of the four for teams to prepare for and defend.”
One anonymous NFL GM was even more direct about Williams’ edge, saying, "He's the most dynamic of the group. He's got the arm talent and overall athleticism suited for today's game.""
That kind of language is exactly what Daniels needs to push back against after what he did as a rookie. He won Offensive Rookie of the Year and put together a season that showed off everything in his game: 69% completions, 3,568 passing yards, 25 touchdown passes and nine interceptions, plus 891 rushing yards and six more scores.
That production had Daniels fifth in this same ranking last offseason, while Williams was left off entirely. But the picture has changed. Williams made a step forward in 2025 under offensive-minded head coach Ben Johnson, and Daniels was limited to seven games because of injury.
That’s the reality in the NFL. Recent performance drives the conversation, and right now the conversation is leaning toward Williams. Daniels is healthy again now, and he’ll get the chance to remind everyone just how dynamic he is.
In Other News...
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Among the names floating around are Calvin Ridley and Rashod Bateman, two very different bets with different kinds of risk attached. Ridley brings the kind of proven track record that can change a room, while Bateman is the younger swing who has not quite delivered the way Baltimore hoped, even after a season that left plenty of questions about his future there. For Washington, the bigger issue is not just whether help is available, but whether the right deal can be found before the market tightens. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Suddenly Face An Uncomfortable Question About A Franchise Veteran
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Daron Payne fits that profile, which is why his name keeps surfacing in leaguewide discussions even if Washington has no obvious reason to rush anything. The Commanders would have to be blown away to seriously consider moving him, and the other path to a deal would likely involve the season taking a turn that changes the front offices calculus. For now, it is the kind of situation that hangs in the background until camp injuries, depth-chart shifts or a slow start force everyone to look at it differently. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Rookie Athan Kaliakmanis Is Making A Strong First Impression
Athan Kaliakmanis is already making a noticeable first impression in Washington, and not just because of what he can do with a football in his hands. The Commanders rookie quarterback took part in the inaugural NFC East Rookies Challenge at Great Wolf Lodge Maryland, where the event also helped support the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Washington and gave the teams newest passer a chance to show up in a different kind of spotlight.
Kaliakmanis came away as the challenge champion after handling the Wave Pool and Lazy River competitions, but the bigger takeaway for Washington is how quickly he seems to be settling in. He spoke about joining the Commanders, learning from teammates and approaching his first NFL opportunity with the right mindset, and that combination of competitiveness and humility is exactly the sort of early signal teams like to see from a rookie quarterback. [Read more 🡒]