For the duration of his career, critics could link Washington Commanders starting quarterback Jayden Daniels to the quarterbacks selected in front of and behind him. One analyst believes a growing number of Commanders fans are regretting the team’s choice.
Nick Ashooh, a guest host on 106.7 The Fan, was asked by host Steve Czaban whether some Commanders fans rue the day they drafted Daniels instead of Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams and New England quarterback Drake Maye.
.@NickAshooh gets the PTSD: “It’s tough to watch the QBs drafted 1 and 3 in the playoffs this year when Jayden Daniels barely played.” pic.twitter.com/cUaPsmVUOW
— 106.7 The Fan (@1067theFan) January 20, 2026
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“There it is; it is not a high percentage yet, but I think because of the fact that there is a history and there are scars, and I myself included, I have those scars. Though I’ve said many times on this station and everything else that this is not the same situation as RG3, I understand why people have the worries in the back of their minds.”
Success of Other Young Quarterbacks Prompts Fans to Question Jayden Daniels’ Future
In 2024, Washington selected Daniels with the No. 2 pick. The Chicago Bears chose Williams with the first pick. One slot after Daniels saw New England entrust the future of its offense to Maye. Both quarterbacks enjoyed a level of success in their second year that overshadows Washington’s starter.
Williams led the Bears to their first NFC North division title since 2018 and their first playoff win since 2010. Furthermore, Williams, despite a 58.1% completion percentage, led the NFL with six fourth-quarter comebacks. The Los Angeles Rams eliminated Chicago from the playoffs with a 20-17 overtime win on January 18. In that game, Williams threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to tight end Cole Kmet with 18 seconds remaining.
Caleb Williams made the throw of the year 4 different times 🎯 pic.twitter.com/vYtpbqy1M1
— NFL (@NFL) January 20, 2026
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Meanwhile, Maye brought the Patriots their first division championship since 2019. Maye doubled his touchdown pass numbers from the previous season, from 15 to 31. Also, he led the NFL with a 72% completion percentage. In the playoffs, New England summarily handled the Los Angeles Chargers and Houston Texans. On January 25, they will face the Denver Broncos for the AFC title and a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.
#NFL FILMS MASTERCLASS:
EPIC VIDEO OF DRAKE MAYE’S PERFECT BALL TO KAYSHON BOUTTE WHO MADE A REMARKABLE ONE-HAND CATCH FOR A TOUCHDOWN.
One of the greatest plays in recent #NFL playoff history.
This is ART.
pic.twitter.com/LMXKysqt7B— MLFootball (@MLFootball) January 19, 2026
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Should Daniels’ Rough Second Season Draw Parallels to Robert Griffin III?
Robert Griffin III, a former Heisman winner, like Daniels, was also Washington’s pick at No. 2 that year, 2012. That season, he led the league with an 8.1 yards per pass attempt and a 6.8 yards per rush. His team clinched a playoff spot. However, injuries curtailed his career.
Daniels is similarly athletic, standing two inches taller than Griffin and weighing three fewer pounds. Their style of play resembles the way they run. Instead of running away from contact, he tends to linger a half-step longer. In return, that allows defenders to draw a bead on him and make solid contact.
GettyRobert Griffin III, former Washington quarterback on draft day, 2012
Some Fan Reactions Back Analysts Assertions
After a 5-12 season in which Daniels started 7 games, sections of the fanbase took to social media to question the quarterback publicly.
When head coach Dan Quinn fired offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, it could’ve opened the door for a new approach. When a first-round pick enters their third season, talk of exercising their fifth-year option becomes a topic of conversation.
The Commanders will need to see improvement from Daniels before starting the paperwork. On top of that, fans will need to experience a bounce-back season that ends successfully for them to move on from thinking about the past.
Source: Riggo’s Rag
Drake Maye was THERE at #3. Commanders passed on a guy with all the intangibles for a guy with obvious body size comparable to RG3. And here we are. If injuries come back next year, GM should answer for that. https://t.co/JfFwwGunwg
— robert yocum (@RobertYocum7) January 19, 2026
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Will Daniels’ play in 2026 separate him from his draft contemporaries? If so, how should the Commanders handle it?
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