Nothing is more valuable in professional sports than an NFL quarterback on a rookie contract. If you found the right guy, you have five years to load up around him before paying him like a superstar. The Washington Commanders finally have their guy in Jayden Daniels.

Daniels, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, exceeded every expectation as a rookie. Daniels put up big numbers, won a lot of games, led the Commanders to the NFC championship, and led the team in rushing before winning every major Rookie of the Year award. It was also Washington’s best season in 33 years.

In only one year, Daniels established himself as one of the NFL’s premier quarterbacks. The good news for Washington is that it has him under contract for three more seasons plus an option year. If Daniels continues his current trajectory, he’ll receive a new deal long before then. Until then, Daniels is one of, if not the biggest bargain in the NFL.

CBS Sports recently named its All-Bargain Team using Pete Prisco’s list of the top 100 players. Two Commanders, Daniels and linebacker Bobby Wagner, made the list.

Daniels is the “elite quarterback on a rookie deal” fantasy brought to life. The Commanders’ dynamic dual threat wasn’t just efficient and explosive as a rookie quarterback; he was also unmoved by the moment, nearly dragging Washington all the way to the Super Bowl. Could he take a step back in Year 2? Sure. If he’s healthy, though, we have no reason to believe he will. Regardless, he’s a financial steal.

Here’s what CBS said about Wagner’s inclusion:

Like a fine wine, Wagner just can’t stop aging gracefully. He’ll be 35 at the start of 2025, which means the Commanders can only count on him for so long. Or can they? The longtime Seattle Seahawks star has missed just three games over the last decade, and while he may not possess the top-end athleticism of today’s linebackers, he remains a physical force close to the line, totaling 1,800-plus tackles for his career.

Wagner played almost every snap last season. Washington doesn’t want him playing as many snaps in 2025 to keep him fresh for the entire game and later in the season. Wagner’s leadership is almost as critical as his play on the field. Bringing back the future Hall of Famer was a slam-dunk for the Commanders, regardless of age.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Jayden Daniels ranked among NFL’s biggest bargains of 2025