Quarterback Jayden Daniels took the world by storm his rookie season, winning Rookie of the Year and propelling the Commanders to their first NFC Championship Game appearance in 33 years.
He knows he'll catch no one unaware in 2025, and he's motivated to stay ahead of the curve as opposing defenses adjust to a full season's worth of his tape.
"As a competitor, you're always trying to find little ways to get better," Daniels said recently on Gruden Goes Long. "For me, last year was last year. That's great, but it's a whole new year now. I still got to go out there, I've got prove myself to my teammates, the organization, each and every day that I'm getting better. When it's time to prepare and when those games come, I've got to know that, hey, how can I eliminate some tendencies? That's the big thing."
Even if last year is in the past, the book on the 2024 season closed, it's still worth looking back at and appreciating. Daniels was simply stellar, throwing for 3,568 yards and 25 touchdowns while limiting typical rookie mistakes with nine interceptions. He was also impossible to contain when things broke down; he ran for 891 yards and another six scores on 148 carries. His heroics resulted in four fourth-quarter comebacks, a 12-5 record and two road wins in the playoffs.
Daniels' ability to dissect defenses in myriad ways makes it difficult to see opponents clamping down on him completely. Lock down his pass-catchers, and he'll take off running. Leave a spy, and he can more easily find the optimal target thanks to one less rusher or cover man. It's something he proved as a rookie, and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury brought him along expertly by designing a heavy dose of short pass plays early, keeping Daniels comfortable before he quickly proved he could connect deep with regularity.
Regardless, the NFL needn't look far for an unthinkable sophomore slump that came to pass.
C.J. Stroud, buoyed by the Texans' active offseason, was primed for a second-year jump just last season, only to see his efficiency fall across the board.
The Commanders have likewise stocked up to hopefully aid Daniels' continued ascendence -- even trading for Stroud's blindside blocker, left tackle Laremy Tunsil. They also acquired wide receiver Deebo Samuel from the 49ers to provide Daniels another Pro Bowl complement alongside Terry McLaurin.
Daniels is ecstatic about both moves.
"It's a blessing," he said. "It's super exciting because, obviously we want to get better each and every year, and the front office has [done] a great job of trying to figure out how can we get better? Adding a dynamic player like Deebo and adding Laremy, two players that have really been proven in this league for some years. It's awesome. I'm just excited really to get out there and get to work with them and start building that continuity."
The first day of the team's offseason program is April 22, at which point Washington's continuity building can begin in earnest.
The Commanders will have the opportunity to add even more talent through the draft a couple days later.
Then, they'll really be off and running in hopes of building on the franchise's best season since 1991.
