A look at Daniels’ numbers in his first three games show that his start has been far from that of any rookie.
PHOENIX — It’s been three games, but Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels has already made an impression on his team and the NFL.
He’s earned multiple player of the week honors, had a near-perfect performance in front of a national audience, and instilled hope in an organization that hasn’t had much for a long time.
It’s been three games, but Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels has already made an impression on his team and the NFL. Cooper Neill/Getty Images
“It’s amazing,” senior linebacker Bobby Wagner said. “It’s a good start (but) let him finish writing his story for the season… but what he’s been able to do, his composure, the way he handled himself from the moment he came in, you knew he was going to be special and he is.” demonstrating”.
The numbers back up Wagner’s claim. A key to Washington’s 2-1 record entering Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals (4:05 p.m. ET, Fox) is Daniels’ excellence to start the season.
He completed 21 of 23 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for another score in Monday night’s win against the Cincinnati Bengals. He was named NFL Offensive Player of the Week, two weeks after being named Offensive Rookie of the Week.
Two days after his defining moment in Cincinnati, he didn’t flinch.
“It’s another game,” Daniels said. “That game is in the past, it doesn’t even mean anything anymore.”
However, a look at his numbers in those first three games shows that his season so far isn’t just another start to the season for a rookie.
Here are the stats behind Daniels’ impressive start in the NFL.
Daniels is the only player since at least 1970 to rush for three touchdowns, pass for two more and throw zero interceptions in his first three games.
This encompasses what Daniels has provided so far: a good arm, strong decision-making and the ability to run. Both touchdown passes came Monday against the Bengals, including a 27-yarder in the fourth quarter against a full blitz. He was leveled by a free runner on the play, but threw a perfect pass to receiver Terry McLaurin in the end zone to seal the 38-33 victory.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday, coach Dan Quinn said he was “proud of the decision-making, the process he’s going through.
“It’s hard to defend him because of his legs. He can come out of the pocket. It’s a double threat.”
Daniels has thrown 90 passes without an interception to begin his career.
That’s impressive, but it’s not even half the record set last season by the Houston Texans’ CJ Stroud, who attempted 192 passes before being intercepted in Week 6. The Dallas Cowboys’ Dak Prescott previously held the record for 176, having surpassed Tom Brady’s mark of 162.
Daniels has completed 80.3% of his pass attempts, which leads the NFL.
It helps that 36.8% of his throws are at or behind the line of scrimmage. But to put it in context, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes ranks second in the NFL behind Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis in this area at 39.1%.
Prescott set the NFL record for rookie completion percentage (67.6) in 2016, ranking 14th in passing yards per attempt.
“When you’re at the end of the game you have a good chance to win it,” Quinn noted of Daniels, who has led Washington to a score on the final possession of every game, excluding a knee against the Bengals, and you’re smiling because you know you’re ready. and you’ve been in that space, that’s one of the things I love about it.”
Daniels ranks 13th in total QBR with 67.9.
His 92.5 QBR rating against the Bengals is the sixth-best by a Washington quarterback since 2015.
The Commanders have had only nine games in the previous five seasons combined in which a quarterback finished with such a high grade. Between 2018 and 2023, Washington’s QBR for the season was never higher than 45.7. The last time the franchise finished with a QBR of 60 or better was in 2016, when Kirk Cousins started every game. That was also the last time they finished with a winning record.
Daniels has completed 40.8% of his passes for first downs, fifth in the NFL.
Since 2000, the highest first down percentage per pass attempt by a rookie quarterback is 44.1%, reached by Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger in 2004. Stroud completed 37.7% of his passes for first downs last season, finishing tenth in the NFL.
Only one player ranks in the top five in first downs per rush among qualified running backs, as well as first downs per pass attempt: Daniels. He trails only the Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson (40.0%) by half a percentage point in first downs per carry. Jackson ranks eighth in first downs per pass attempt at 36.7%.
There is room for Daniels to grow, as Quinn has noted: keeping his eyes up when he fights, making more big plays on the field. But the Commanders are confident those plays will happen more frequently as he becomes more comfortable and continues to develop.
“It’s still growing,” Quinn said. “I can’t wait to see who he’s becoming.”
