Former LSU star Jayden Daniels putting the NFL on notice in first preseason game with the Washington Commanders

The ascension of Jayden Daniels as a 2024 NFL Draft prospect was almost too good to be true. After an extremely promising start to his college career while a part of the Arizona State Sun Devils program, things went south quickly. COVID-19 and a tumultuous culture doomed Daniels’ development.

Luckily Daniels utilized the transfer portal to his advantage, winding up with the LSU Tigers . The rest was history from there. Flash forward two years, and the talented signal caller threw for 6,725 yards and 57 touchdowns, adding another 2,019 yards and 21 scores on the ground. Daniels was able to win the 2024 Heisman Trophy in the process.

On Saturday, Daniels made his NFL debut for the Washington Commanders against the New York Jets. The No. 2 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, the talented signal caller is already putting the rest of the league on notice. On his second throw of his debut, Daniels did a lot of what we saw in his final year at LSU, making a huge throw down the sideline.

As if Daniels’ deep ball ability was impressive enough, he is also a dynamic athlete. That is evidenced by his 1,134 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns, and 8.4 yards per carry in 2023. He also showcases that dynamic skill set on that first drive, ending with his first rushing score on the NFL level.

The preseason hyperbole can be a little over the top at times. Some are going to be super excited about Daniels’ debut. Others will be less excited, and understand that the preseason isn’t the ultimate evaluation. Whichever side you lie on, it was still a couple of big moments for Daniels. If you’re a Commander fan, it’s hard not to be very optimistic for the future of the organization today.