Commanders TE Zach Ertz heaps big praise on rookie QB Jayden Daniels

Washington Commanders veteran tight end Zach Ertz is a Super Bowl Champion.  He knows what it takes for an offense to click and what leadership and ability the quarterback brings.

That's why it is particularly telling when Ertz recently told the Washington, DC NBC affiliate what he thinks about Jayden Daniels.  He said: "A lot of times you talk about rookies it's like the guy is going to be really good...Jayden is good now."

This interview comes on the heels of Coach Dan Quinn naming Daniels the QB1 on the team's first official depth chart of the season and announcing that Daniels will start in the Commanders' first preseason game against the New York Jets on Saturday.

Up to this point, the Commanders had been cautious and even evasive about when Daniels would take the reins. Veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota is also on the roster so some assumed Daniels would not play immediately.

NFL rookie quarterbacks have a lot of eyes on them and pressure to perform.  In some respects, the Commanders finishing 4-13 in 2023 takes the pressure off.  Despite retooling the roster and coaching staff and an abandoned effort to trade for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk , no massive external expectations for this team exist putting the Commanders in a very good position both to overperform and fly under the radar in 2024.