Commanders' Jayden Daniels maintains the right attitude after early success

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels is a star, whether he wants to admit it or not. Daniels cemented his stardom after his legendary final season at LSU, winning the Heisman Trophy and becoming the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

Daniels’ success has translated to the NFL, where he has already won numerous awards and broke records just four games into his professional career. You’d think that would go to his head, but Daniels is wired differently.

“Eventful and still room to grow, yeah,” Daniels said Wednesday when asked how he would describe his first four NFL games.

Daniels has completed 82% of his passes and won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month award, and he’s still talking about growth. He’s not talking about what he’s done — he only wants to keep improving.

What’s the next step in his growth process?

“Keep improving,” Daniels said. “Finding little ways to keep growing. I wouldn’t say it’s a finished product, but it’s just a start and, I mean, I don’t really look at everything that people talk about. I mean, I see it, but other than that, man, none of that matters. That was last week’s stuff. You are only as good as the last game you played, and everybody is going to look at what you can do the week prior and the weeks after that.”

Daniels sounds like a 10-year veteran. While his play has endeared him to teammates, coaches and fans, it’s his attitude and selflessness that make Daniels so well respected this early in his career.

This summer, Daniels declined any notion that he was a star, saying he was a rookie trying to learn to be an NFL quarterback.

Even after a successful first month, where his jersey is the NFL’s most popular, Daniels isn’t backing down from those words.

“Man, y’all can say whatever y’all want,” Daniels said about being called a star rookie. “I’m still a rookie in my eyes, so I let everybody else do the talking for me. I don’t get caught up in that stuff.”

That approach will help Daniels through highs and inevitable lows of being an NFL starting quarterback. Washington knew Daniels was different when it selected him, but he’s continued proving them correct with his play and actions.

He’s only just getting started.