One can only wonder what the Chicago Bears are thinking. They were the owners of the first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. They could have taken Jayden Daniels. Instead, they went with Caleb Williams. The Washington Commanders, with the very next selection, nabbed the LSU star and 2023 Heisman Trophy winner. The rest, as they say, is history.
It’s recent history but history nonetheless. Daniels as gotten off to a torrid start. Williams hasn’t gotten off to the start he wanted, so again, one has to wonder about what Chicago must be thinking.
Now, don’t hear what hasn’t been said. Don’t read what hasn’t been written. It’s year two for both of these guys, and its too early to make determinations about where their careers are headed.
Caleb’s getting an offensive genius as his next head coach in the form of newly-hired Ben Johnson, and despite winning the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year trophy, Daniels has to prove he can repeat the success of last season.
If Pro Football Focus is right about one of their recent takes, the chances of Jayden’s success increase exponentially.
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PFF names the Commanders among the most improved offensive lines in the NFL.
It doesn’t get much better than Jayden Daniels’ first season in the NFL. Frankly, the only thing he could have done to enjoy a better campaign is earn an All-Pro nod and beat the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game to advance to the Super Bowl 59.
Every season won’t produce the same outcome, but the bar is set pretty high now. Still, as tempting as this might be for some of you, please avoid the temptation to label his coming season as a sophomore jinx if his team doesn’t advance deep into the playoffs.
That isn’t to state that isn’t Washington’s plan. The Commanders expect to win now. They’ve added Deebo Samuel. Teamed with Terry McLaurin, they form one of the scariest duos in all of pro football. Just go ask a former rival.
Samuel wasn’t Washington’s only win of the offseason. A trade landed star tackle Laremy Tunsil. The Commanders also drafted Josh Conerly Jr. during the 2025 NFL Draft’s first round.
That’s part of the reason Dan Quinn’s offensive line was named by PFF as one of pro football’s most improved. Here’s some of what Andrew Ites, the writer of this one, mentioned as his reasoning for anointing them.
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“Tunsil (managed) to earn an 89.1 PFF pass-blocking grade, marking his fifth season with a PFF pass-blocking grade of 84.9 or better. While (he) did struggle with penalties in 2024, he should bring some much-needed stability to the Commanders’ offensive line for at least the next two seasons.
Washington is betting that Josh Conerly Jr. can hold up at tackle in the NFL, but he may project better as a guard. Either way, the Commanders are getting a good athlete who earned a 78.1 PFF grade on true pass sets last season. Washington also made a couple of low-cost signings along the offensive line to add some depth as the team looks to make another deep postseason run.”
Somewhere Jayden Daniels is smiling.
They say a quarterback’s best friend is a solid run game. The Commanders are banking on big seasons from Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler. McLaurin and Samuel were already mentioned. Individually, they pose threats. As a tandem, they’re certain to have opposing defensive coordinators losing sleep before their games vs. Washington.
Zach Ertz is a savvy veteran, but everyone knows how this great game works. They are won and lost in the trenches, and Josh Harris’s squad appears to have the forces.
If the defense continues to gel, this could be another impressive season. If the Commanders’ offense gets more of what they got from Jayden Daniels in year one, this could bloom into a powerful offense.
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There’s no reason to invest in any doubts about Washington’s QB1. He looks the part, and a clear decision has been made to invest into some guys to keep him vertical.
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