The expectations for Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders have risen dramatically after a stellar, record-breaking 2024 campaign, but the standard hasn't changed in the quarterback's second season.
"I just gotta go out there and prove myself each and every day," Daniels said after OTA practice on May 28. "No matter if it's last season, this season or 10, 20 years down the road. You still gotta prove yourself each and every season."
Daniels, who accounted for over 5,000 yards in the regular and postseason combined, did plenty to prove himself as a rookie. He set multiple team and league records for a rookie quarterback, prompting many to believe he had the best rookie season of all time. As a result, the Commanders vaulted themselves among some of the best teams in the league with a 12-5 record and a trip to the NFC Championship.
But neither the Commanders nor Daniels' expectations have dropped since the 2024 campaign ended against the Philadelphia Eagles. Daniels has spent months preparing for his second season, and it looks like the quarterback has put on a few pounds of muscle. Several of his teammates, including Tyler Biadasz and Frankie Luvu, praised him for how much he has worked to improve and get stronger.
Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said Daniels has "gotten stronger, for sure." Daniels laughed off questions about him looking a little more muscular on social media.
"I was just working out," Daniels said with a smile. "It was just, 'Go out there, have a plan and just naturally put on weight.'"
The NFL hasn't dropped their expectations for Daniels and the Commanders, either. They gave the Burgundy & Gold five primetime games -- tied for the second most in the league -- and eight total standalone games. Clearly, the NFL views Daniels and Washington as a main attraction, and it wants to put them in the brightest spotlights.
That increased attention creates higher expectations, but for Daniels and his teammates, the standard is the same.
"We know everything is not going to be given to us," Daniels said. "We gotta go out there and earn it each and every day."
Here are some other observations from OTAs.
- Trey Amos is already turning heads this offseason, as he grabbed an interception off a pass to Michael Gallup and nearly grabbed another one later in a seven-on-seven series. His interception was the result of Gallup and him getting tripped up, but Amos was able to stay upright to make the grab.
- Earlier in the series, Jeremy Reaves made the first interception of the offseason thanks to a tipped pass from Daniels to Gallup. The Commanders emphasized turnovers throughout the 2024 season, although the results were mixed. Interceptions in May don't carry much weight, but it's a good start towards the defense increasing their turnover numbers in 2025.
- Deebo Samuel is gelling well with his new wide receiver teammates and was routinely at the front of the line for individual drills. He and Daniels didn't connect much, but it's clear they are already developing their rapport.
- Head coach Dan Quinn had a quick update on Sam Cosmi, who has been recovering from an ACL injury he suffered against the Detroit Lions in the Divisional round. Quinn said Cosmi has been doing excellent and is hitting all the markers at this point in his rehab. Cosmi still faces a long road to being back on the field, but it sounds like he's on track to return at some point in the season.
- There's not much to be learned from lineups at this point in the season; Laremy Tunsil, Marshon Lattimore and Terry McLaurin were not present at the voluntary workout, so the starting combinations will look different when they're on the field. However, there was something to watch with the defense during seven-on-seven drills: Mike Sainristil was lined up at nickel as opposed to the outside, where he often played last season. That was the position Sainristil was supposed to play as a rookie, so perhaps he will return there now that Trey Amos is part of the secondary.
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