Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels has done more for this organization in one year than any player in recent franchise history. The Josh Harris era is re-igniting the Commanders’ organization, and it started with the hiring of Adam Peters and Dan Quinn. Together with their staff, Peters and Quinn collaborated to draft Jayden Daniels with the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

What happened next was nothing short of a miracle. Not only did the new administration convince Daniels to buy into their strategy and scheme, but they also made sure the entire roster was on board. With the entire franchise on the same page, Jayden Daniels spent 2024 shattering records and earning Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. So, it’s not a surprise that Bleacher Report names Daniels one of the top 15 franchise players a team should build around in 2025.

Most fans think of quarterbacks when they think of true franchise players. While the NFL currently has plenty of talent at that position, there are never more than a few truly elite signal-callers in the league at any given time.

Patrick Mahomes and reigning MVP Josh Allen are certainly in that category, but they missed the age cutoff for our list. Second-year quarterback Jayden Daniels might not be elite just yet, but he’s already closer than any of our honorable mentions.

As a rookie with the Washington Commanders last season, Daniels threw for 3,568 yards, rushed for 891 yards, recorded 31 combined passing and rushing touchdowns, carried his team to the NFC title game and was named the Offensive Rookie of the Year. The 24-year-old also showcased an exceptional amount of leadership along the way.

“The physical tools stood out immediately,” veteran tight end Zach Ertz said, per ESPN’s John Keim. “The way the ball popped out of his hands. [But] it was the stuff that not everyone sees that stuck out the most.”

While Daniels’ sample size is relatively small, it feels like an injury is the only thing that could stand between him and being a perennial top-five quarterback.

To qualify for this list, players must be 28 years old or under when the regular season starts on September 5. They also must have played at least one year in the NFL and still play for the team that drafted them. The players were ranked based on proven production, positional value, versatility, and upside.

With that criteria, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that Daniels not only makes the list, but lands at No. 4 out of the 15 players mentioned. Above him, Bleacher Report lists Jalen Hurts, Joe Burrow, and Lamar Jackson (3-1, respectively). It’s interesting that they would suggest the Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens, and Cincinnati Bengals aren’t already building around their quarterbacks, because all three teams have spent the last several seasons doing just that.

Regardless, the Commanders absolutely plan to build around Jayden Daniels, and so long as he remains healthy, he will remain the face of the franchise.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders Jayden Daniels named a top franchise player to build around