Jayden Daniels and his popularity in the NFL arena isn’t unknown. His talent and skills on the field have added his name among the few players who have left their impression even before the 2024 NFL season commenced. Daniels was drafted as no. 2 overall pick by the Washington Commanders. Recently, he agreed to a 4-year, $37.7 million rookie contract on Friday. And the word of praise for him is not subsiding soon, as this time Colorado Director, Corey Phillips, commended Daniels’ work culture, drawing comparison to Coach Prime’s son, Shedeur Sanders.

In a recent episode of DNVR Buffs, hosts Ryan Koenigsberg and Jake Schwanitz were joined by Colorado Director Corey Phillips to talk about CU recruiting and his experience with Jayden Daniels at LSU. As Daniels has now signed a contract with the Commanders, Schwanitz chose this perfect time to ask how the 23-year-old is as a quarterback.

Without missing a beat, Phillips called the young Daniels “special.” According to him, in the recruitment process, Jayden had a lot of stuff that was set about him. Probably the reason why he won the Heisman Trophy. As the Bleacher Report mentioned, “Daniels is the reigning Heisman winner after throwing for 3,812 yards and 40 touchdowns against four interceptions while adding 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground.”

Talking about him further, Phillips compared Daniels to the current quarterback at Colorado, Shedeur Sanders, saying both are the best in college football. He praised Jayden, noting that despite negative comments surrounding him during recruitment (whether he would succeed or not), anyone who spends time with him or the Colorado quarterback will see how special they are.

Corey Phillips shared that both players are dedicated and hardworking. He recalled seeing Jayden practicing early in the morning at LSU and Sanders working alone late at night. But, this is not where the similarities between the two ended. The Colorado Director stated that besides being great players, “They’re great teammates. You cannot find me a rare running back, an old lineman in either one of those locker rooms that don’t love both of those kids. They’re great kids so I’ve seen what a Heisman looks like. I think we got one in our locker room.”

Astonishingly, while Jayden is a Heisman winner and is already considered among the best rookies in the NFL, Sanders is yet to win the Heisman pride. However, for now, Daniels will be focused on his entry into the NFL arena with a great paycheck and aspirations to conquer.

How can Jayden Daniels contribute to the NFL?

Jayden Daniels faced immense pressure as he joined the Commanders. While Caleb Williams, the No. 1 pick, also carried high expectations with the Bears, Daniels was tasked with leading the Commanders under new owner Josh Harris. However, his prowess as a dual-threat quarterback adds to the hopes of the Commanders who had a strong draft. His ability to gain yards on the ground can pose a constant challenge for defenses.

In addition to it, Daniels can show great poise in the pocket, quickly going through progressions and evading pressure. Furthermore, his decision-making has also improved significantly during his last year at LSU, completing 72.2 percent of his passes and throwing only four interceptions. Daniels is a fluid mover with impressive footwork and a quick release, though he needs slight refinement in pocket poise. As per reports, he has also won the confidence of the Commanders’ players.

Overall, his ability to make correct reads, leadership, and timing on throws is outstanding. Therefore, it remains to be seen what he brings to the table for the Commanders and the league.