Commanders' Dan Quinn Reveals Jayden Daniels Advice

When the Washington Commanders drafted quarterback Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 overall pick, they were hoping to acquire their franchise star for the next decade.

While Daniels' abilities on the field are to be marveled at, young quarterbacks coming into a new organization are sometimes relied upon to be the team's leaders from the outset, whether that's in their makeup or not.

Head coach Dan Quinn, who announced Daniels as the starting quarterback on Monday, revealed that he told Jayden he doesn't have to be the one to lift the entire team. Instead, focus on being the best version of himself.

“Sometimes you can cast upon that[leadership] just by the position that comes with it, the quarterback,” Quinn said . “I have to lead the team and do that, I think the first thing you have to do, especially as a younger player, is demonstrate you can be absolutely counted upon. I said that to him when he first arrived, like you don't have to put the cape on and carry the team, all I want you to focus on is playing quarterback to the very best of your ability and be the most absolute best teammate you can be.”

Of course, as a franchise quarterback, part of the deal is being a leader of the organization, and we have seen young rookies come in, and that suits them well.

But it is clear that Quinn wanted to emphasize Daniels' focus on football first and that the "other" stuff would come later.

"I said those things come with time, the leading in that way," Quinn added. "What you need to do is be able to absolutely deliver on your end and Jayden Daniels is an absolutely fantastic teammate. He's a competitor, a great teammate, he's on his stuff so like that's what I wanted his team to see, nothing where he had to take on a leadership mantle that he didn't need to yet. That'll come."

Related: Commanders Officially Enter Jayden Daniels Era

So, with Daniels free to focus on being the best version of himself and the best teammate he can be, his football has continued to improve to the point where he is now the starting quarterback.

Of course, that is only part of the journey. Now, he must take this team back to where it feels it belongs. While it will be a long journey, Daniels has the right mental makeup to be "the guy" to take this franchise forward.

And it appears that Quinn isn't one for rushing him into a leadership position - he'll get there when he gets there.