Is it too soon to call Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels one of the NFL’s best players?
Pete Prisco of CBS Sports doesn’t think so. In his annual list of the top 100 NFL players, Prisco has Daniels at No. 33 — fifth among all NFL quarterbacks.
Daniels showed as a rookie that he has star potential and should be a top-level quarterback for a long time. It’s scary to think how good he can be once he learns how to really play the position.
Here’s Prisco’s top-five quarterbacks with overall rankings in parentheses:
- 1. Patrick Mahomes (1)
- 2. Josh Allen (4)
- 3. Lamar Jackson (6)
- 4. Joe Burrow (7)
- 5. Jayden Daniels (33)
Yes, Prisco has Daniels higher than Justin Herbert, Matthew Stafford, Jalen Hurts, Dak Prescott, and others. If we’re basing it on last season, that’s fair. Daniels was not only outstanding as a passer but also led the Commanders in rushing. He improved as the season wore on, putting the team on his back late in the season and in the playoffs. Daniels didn’t have the supporting cast of a Jalen Hurts.
Two other Commanders made Prisco’s top 100:
No. 81: WR Terry McLaurin
In 2024, when he finally had a top-level quarterback, McLaurin was even better than he had been in the past. He had 82 catches with a career-high 13 touchdown receptions as he and Jayden Daniels developed a nice rapport.
No. 88: LB Bobby Wagner
At the age of 34, Wagner continues to be a good player who impacts the game. His run defense is outstanding, but he can also rush and still can play the pass, even if he doesn’t cover as much ground as he did in the past.
Both McLaurin and Wagner are deserving of this list. This type of recognition was long overdue for McLaurin. Wagner continues to be excellent, even if he’s lost a step. Wagner’s importance to Washington isn’t just measured in tackles. Wagner’s leadership helped turn the Commanders around and rebuild the culture.
Were there any omissions? Left tackle Laremy Tunsil is the first name that comes to mind.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Is Commanders’ Jayden Daniels already one of the NFL’s best players?