Jayden Daniels is ranked third among young quarterbacks in the latest rankings, trailing Drake Maye and Caleb Williams. Despite a challenging 2025 season with injuries, Daniels remains a top talent following his impressive Rookie of the Year performance in 2024.
Before the 2025 season, you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who didn't think Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels was the best young quarterback in the league.
That's understandable, considering Daniels won the Rookie of the Year Award in 2024 after throwing for 3,500 yards, accounting for 31 touchdowns, and leading the Commanders to the NFC Championship Game. Many expected Daniels to only get better and take another step forward in 2025.
Unfortunately, we know the Commanders had a rough 2025 across the board. The team was decimated by injuries and Daniels only ended up playing in seven games. As a result, the team finished with just five wins, and it seems like some are forgetting just how dominant Daniels can be.
NFL.com's Nick Shook recently ranked the top 15 quarterbacks currently playing on rookie deals. Shook has Daniels at No. 3, behind Drake Maye and Caleb Williams. Notably, Williams, Daniels, and Maye were the first three picks in the 2024 NFL Draft.
After their rookie seasons, not a single person would have put Daniels behind the other two. However, Williams had an incredible 2025 season and led his team to the playoffs, while Maye had a similarly impressive season, leading his team to the Super Bowl.
Shook offered the following analysis about Daniels:
The 2025 season felt like a complete wash for Daniels. The 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year couldn't stay on the field long enough to find a rhythm, with the QB's knee, hamstring and elbow injuries subverting the Commanders' hopes of repeating the stunning success they enjoyed a year prior and leaving open a host of questions regarding their outlook entering 2026. I still hold a firm belief that Daniels is one of the most dynamic, thrilling quarterbacks in the NFL when healthy, and that he is fully capable of carrying this offense for as long as he can remain available.
Jayden Daniels is ranked third due to his previous success, including winning the Rookie of the Year Award in 2024, but his limited play in 2025 due to injuries impacted his ranking.
In his rookie season, Jayden Daniels threw for 3,500 yards, accounted for 31 touchdowns, and led the Washington Commanders to the NFC Championship Game.
The top two quarterbacks ranked ahead of Jayden Daniels are Drake Maye and Caleb Williams, both of whom were also top picks in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Foster Griffin struck out a season-high nine batters over seven innings, leading the Nationals to a 3-2 victory against the Marlins. Jacob Young contributed with a two-run homer in the first inning.
Misiorowski shines with 12 strikeouts as Brewers defeat Yankees 6-0
Brooklyn Nets set to select Caleb Wilson over Darryn Peterson in 2026 NBA Draft.
Shakira Austin leads Mystics to 68-65 win over Tempo in opener
The Philadelphia 76ers surprised teachers and healthcare workers by giving away 500 free tickets for Game 3 of their playoff series against the New York Knicks. Recipients included educators from Philadelphia and Camden, New Jersey, as well as healthcare workers from local hospitals.
Packers officially cut ties with Super Bowl champion kicker Brandon McManus
See every story in Sports — including breaking news and analysis.
As Shook mentioned, the 2025 season was basically a wash for Daniels, so it's understandable to have him third now. If the young passer surpasses or even matches his 2024 level, though, it won't be surprising to see him at the top of next year's list.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels behind 2024 classmates