After a 38-14 loss to the Seattle Seahawks during which the devastation of one other blowout loss paled compared to the devastation of Jayden Daniels‘ dislocated elbow within the waning moments, coach Dan Quinn altered between frustration, disbelief, anger and unhappiness.
What else was there to really feel? The Washington Commanders‘ season had already gone off the rails, and Daniels had suffered one more harm, his third on this disastrous season however his first that got here in true rubbish time. A day later, Quinn admitted he made a mistake having Daniels within the sport. However on this dreary Sunday evening within the bowels of Northwest Stadium, he needed to confront the largest query: Might the Commanders defend Daniels?
“I feel the reply to that’s we’ll give him the help to try this,” Quinn mentioned. “And I am sure of that, to ensure we do this in each single method. And that is … offense, protection, the entire method by, man. I completely really feel that method on the hamstring harm and tonight with an elbow. It is actually essential we get that half proper, and we’ll.”
Daniels returned 5 weeks after the elbow dislocation, landed on the bothered elbow, aggravated the harm, and left the sport. Fortunately, the autumn did not trigger any additional structural harm to the elbow. The Commanders initially solely dominated him out for the following sport. Then they lastly shut him down for the season.
The ultimate tally was dispiriting. Daniels performed in seven video games. He exited three of them early because of harm. He suffered three totally different accidents — a knee sprain in Week 2, a hamstring pressure in Week 7 and an elbow dislocation in Week 9 — and an aggravation of that third harm. He went from Offensive Rookie of the Yr sensation to sidelined sophomore. His staff went from Cinderella story to dregs of the league, a spot the franchise is aware of all too properly.
In reality, one might argue they know this quarterback timeline all too properly, too.
Again in 2012, Washington had one other dual-threat Offensive Rookie of the Yr quarterback who led the staff to a shocking playoff berth behind a flowery new offense, suffered an harm and had a disappointing second season. He was by no means the identical.
The comparisons between Daniels and Robert Griffin III ought to finish there, although.
Before everything, the accidents are utterly totally different. Daniels performed his whole rookie yr earlier than struggling three separate accidents his second season, none of which had been season-ending. Griffin tore his ACL and suffered different knee harm on the finish of his 2012 rookie season. He had suffered a sprained LCL in the identical knee simply weeks earlier and had already been enjoying with a brace on the knee. He additionally had torn the identical ACL in faculty.
Then, he rushed again in 2013. Adidas produced an “All In For Week 1” advert marketing campaign centered round Griffin. Griffin has admitted enjoying in any respect in 2013 — a lot much less in Week 1 — is the greatest remorse of his profession. He just lately instructed “The Dan Patrick Present” that he’d inform Patrick Mahomes and Micah Parsons — each of whom tore their ACLs in Week 15 — they should not play in any respect in 2026.
Not solely has Daniels not suffered any accidents of that diploma, however he is been held out from returning to a number of video games he needed to reenter. The staff has been in lockstep making certain Daniels misses the time he must miss.
“We’ll simply form of undergo the entire course of with him, and we’re not going to overlook it both,” Quinn mentioned after Week 2. “With Jayden, we all know how essential he’s, and so we’re simply going to form of take it. That is why I really say it is daily to guarantee that he can completely be himself.”
That is a departure from the Griffin years marked by inner turmoil that has been well-documented.
There have been no indicators of any of that in current-day Washington. Daniels has been broadly praised for his diligent work ethic, and he and Quinn have a robust relationship. Present proprietor Josh Harris has been a revelation in comparison with Snyder.
Lastly, there is a important distinction between Daniels and Griffin as quarterbacks. Griffin was a byproduct of Kyle Shanahan’s zone read-heavy scheme that modified the NFL. As groups figured that out — and with Griffin unable to return to his degree of athleticism previous to his torn ACL — he turned much less and fewer efficient.
After a 1.3% interception charge in 2012, Griffin’s interception charges ballooned to 2.6%, 2.8% and a couple of.0% in his subsequent three seasons. He was by no means a starter once more. Daniels had a 1.9% interception charge as a rookie, and it really fell to 1.3% in his second season. Moreover, Griffin’s sack charges elevated each season, together with 13.4% in 2014, his last season in Washington and his first outdoors the Shanahan system. Daniels’ sack charge went down from 8.9% final season to eight.7% this season.
This is not a slight to Griffin, whose profession fell off rapidly for a number of causes, not all of which had been his fault. However simply because it is easy to match Griffin and Daniels — faces of the Washington franchise, former Heisman Trophy winners, No. 2 general picks, Offensive Rookie of the Yr winners, cellular quarterbacks, disappointing second seasons — does not imply it is apt. Given the character of the accidents, the trajectory of Griffin’s profession after his harm and the encircling conditions, the concept Daniels is changing into Griffin is a lazy assertion.
That does not imply, nonetheless, that the Commanders can stand idly by and dismiss a disastrous 2025 season because of harm misfortune and a plethora of different points.
Washington have to be diligent to assist restore Daniels’ path to stardom — one which appeared sure simply months in the past — and Daniels should observe in type.
Briefly, Quinn’s phrases cannot be empty guarantees. Listed below are 5 methods Washington and its quarterback can guarantee they will not be.
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1. Daniels should study to guard himself
Though he solely accomplished three of his seven video games, Daniels was contacted on 11.7 performs per sport this season. That is the third-highest charge amongst quarterbacks, solely behind Justin Fields (benched) and Justin Herbert, who’s 6-foot-6 and 236 kilos, a lot bigger than the slender Daniels (6-foot-4, 210 kilos).
Merely put, Daniels takes too many hits. He was contacted on a league-high 12.4 performs per sport final yr, the fourth-highest charge within the league. Cell quarterbacks are inclined to take extra hits, however Daniels can do a greater job avoiding them.
One space Daniels can enhance upon is sliding, a difficulty that goes again to Daniels’ very first preseason sport. Quinn jokingly put Daniels on “double secret probation” after he did not slide on a run in his unofficial NFL debut. Daniels additionally ran by a pair of defenders within the 2025 preseason as a substitute of sliding. Each occasions, he talked about his competitiveness as causes he did not slide.
Competitiveness is okay. It is superb, in actual fact — a requisite for knowledgeable athlete. However so, too, are smarts, availability and longevity. Daniels is not the primary younger quarterback to study this within the professionals, and he will not be the final.
“I feel the primary [are for growth] is that aggressive spot for him and in addition these selections to guard the staff, to know when to get down, when to slip, when to throw it out of bounds,” Quinn mentioned. “And so, most of these come on a dropback cross the place you are outdoors the pocket and it is typical for lots of quarterbacks who’re outdoors the pocket, what do you do? It is scrambles, it is a part of what we monitor each week defensively. Scramble to run, to throw, the place the sack’s coming from.”
The Commanders made a number of win-now strikes over the previous season and a half, a growth that led to the staff having the oldest staff within the NFL by a big margin. The most important win-now transfer was sending a 2025 third-round choose, a 2025 seventh-round choose, a 2026 second-round choose and a 2026 fourth-round choose to the Houston Texans for left deal with Laremy Tunsil and a 2025 fourth-round choose.
Amid a down season for the franchise and inconsistent returns from lots of the gamers added in win-now strikes, Tunsil shone. He’s the seventh highest-graded offensive deal with in Professional Soccer Focus’ grades and third in cross blocking. His 84.7 grade this season is on monitor to be one of the best of his profession.
Tunsil, 31, is properly value investing in once more. Prime-tier left tackles are uncommon; that is why Washington went after Tunsil with such aggression. It is unlikely that Washington would give away a lot draft capital for only one season of Tunsil.
Ever for the reason that Commanders settled on a beginning 5 — from left to proper: Tunsil, Chris Paul, Tyler Biadasz, Sam Cosmi and Josh Conerly Jr. — they’ve had probably the greatest pass-protecting models within the NFL. Conerly solely turned 22 final month and has made immense strides this season. Biadasz and Cosmi, who has rounded into type after getting back from a torn ACL, are each beneath contract subsequent yr. Washington would do properly to make sure the identical for Tunsil.
3. Add pace at extensive receiver, cross catcher
Even with the addition of Deebo Samuel Sr., Washington got here into the season paper skinny at extensive receiver, a weak point that was uncovered all through coaching camp with out Terry McLaurin. After lastly getting a contract extension, McLaurin began sluggish after which suffered a quad harm. He performed in simply 4 of Washington’s first 12 video games. The staff has additionally been with out its high deep menace, Noah Brown, for nearly your entire season.
Washington wants so as to add pace and explosiveness throughout its roster, cross catcher particularly. The Commanders are twenty sixth in yards after catch per reception and twenty fifth in share of touches that go 20+ yards. They want a extra dependable downfield menace reverse McLaurin. Impending free agent Alec Pierce has developed from nearly solely a deep menace to a well-rounded receiver and may very well be a match.
It isn’t simply at extensive receiver, although. Reliable tight finish Zach Ertz tore his ACL and may not be again subsequent season. John Bates is primarily a blocking tight finish, and 2024 second-round rookie Ben Sinnott is unproven.
Then, at working again, Austin Ekeler tore his Achiles and missed nearly the entire season. His absence confirmed up throughout the board, with obligations falling to seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt and veterans Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Jeremy McNichols. Washington’s dashing effectiveness plummeted this season: Washington’s working backs are twelfth in dashing success charge in 2025 after being fourth in 2024. Croskey-Merritt exhibits flashes, Rodriguez is a bruiser, and McNichols is reliable on passing downs. Nonetheless, upgrades may very well be in retailer.
4. Take into account including extra under-center components to the offense
This may be a substantial philosophical departure for offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who has at all times run one of many NFL’s most shotgun-heavy offenses. Washington has been beneath middle on 10% of its performs this season, by far the bottom charge within the NFL; Cincinnati is second-lowest at 17%, and the league common is 35%. Washington was additionally final in 2024.
“I feel with Jayden beginning off, consolation degree greater than something, we need to tailor offense to what he’s used to, snug with and does one of the best,” Kingsbury mentioned in November. “However you have seen sure groups have a whole lot of success beneath middle, a whole lot of groups have had success in shotgun, so I do not suppose there is a proper or fallacious. I feel it is enjoying to your personnel and maximizing what you need to do offensively.”
Underneath middle is again en vogue within the NFL.
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There is a correlation between beneath middle charges and success charge + explosive play charges. That the Commanders have nonetheless carried out decently is a testomony to Kingsbury, Marcus Mariota and an enhancing offensive line.
Not solely would being beneath middle extra make Washington a greater offense — it has proven, league-wide, to be a more practical option to run the ball — however it might additionally assist take some warmth off Daniels. Fewer reads and RPOs means fewer hits. Underneath middle play motion helps freeze cross rushers and linebackers for a second or two higher than shotgun play motion does. It can also present extra fast, simple solutions.
Kingsbury does not need to change into Sean McVay. However even incorporating under-center formations just a bit bit extra might go a great distance.
5. Overhaul the protection
The lone non-offensive adjustment may be a very powerful — for Daniels, for the offense, for everybody.
The Commanders’ protection has been terrible. The Commanders rank thirty first in factors per drive allowed, takeaways per drive and three-and-out charge pressured.
Washington can’t defend the cross. The Commanders’ 8.0 web yards per cross try is monitoring to be the worst by any staff since 2020. Out of 1,669 particular person seasons for the reason that 1970 AFL-NFL meerger, Washington’s web yards per cross try allowed ranks 1,655th. Put one other method, there are solely 14 worse seasons during the last 56 years.
Washington wants upgrades all over the place, with cross rusher on the high of the record. However Washington might transfer on from 35-year-old linebacker Bobby Wagner as properly. Wagner is a future Corridor of Famer and nonetheless an amazing tackler, however he has struggled in protection. He additionally calls the performs defensively, so that may be a essential spot.
Promising rookie cornerback Trey Amos had his season lower brief, however even with him and Mike Sainristil again, Washington should enhance its cornerbacks and safeties. The Commanders can even be relying on important inner enchancment, too. There are some younger items, a lot of whom had down seasons.
A greater protection means much less stress on Daniels to make so many performs. All of his accidents got here in video games the Commanders had been chasing because the protection struggled.
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Large offseason forward
The Commanders are projected to have over $60 million in efficient cap house this offseason, sixth-most within the NFL, and their first draft choose — which will probably be within the high 10 — is of paramount significance. Whereas they’re with out some later draft picks, they will give attention to a big free-agent haul, a bunch that may assist now and sooner or later.
Consider the New England Patriots‘ 2025 offseason. New England drafted Will Campbell fourth general to solidify Drake Maye’s offensive line but additionally hit it huge in free company with Stefon Diggs, Milton Williams, Carlton Davis III, Robert Spillane, Harold Landry III, Ok’Lavon Chaisson, Khyiris Tonga and Mack Hollins, amongst others. Washington GM Adam Peters has an enormous offseason forward, one stuffed with each nice energy and nice accountability.
Washington and Daniels could have been two of the league’s greatest disappointments this yr. That does not preclude both from bouncing again in 2025.
