The tremendous amount of shade thrown at Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is, no doubt, overblown. It also contains some truths.
While Stroud has regressed since a brilliant rookie season in 2023, he’s also led the Texans to 3 consecutive playoff berths — something Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels has already failed to do after an injury-riddled 2025 season in which he missed 10 games with knee, shoulder, and elbow injuries.
Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon warned the Commanders against a possible “Nightmare Scenario” in 2026 with Daniels, like what’s happened with Stroud.
“(The nightmare scenario) for the Commanders is Jayden Daniels pulls a C.J. Stroud with back-to-back disappointing seasons following an Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign as the Commanders fall well short of the playoffs again,” Gagnon wrote.
Jayden Daniels: Dramatic Falloff in 2025
Daniels was being talked about as a potential NFL MVP candidate and the Commanders as Super Bowl contenders before the 2025 season after a magical 2024 season in which the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft led his team to a 12-5 record and the NFC Championship Game.
Instead, 2025 proved to be a nightmare, with the Commanders pulling off a type of rare, reverse scorigami with their record by going 5-12, and Daniels was shut down for good following a 31-0 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 14.
It also put a dent in projections that the Commanders might make Daniels the highest-paid player in NFL history following the 2026 season, when he will be eligible for his 1st contract extension.
Drake Maye, Caleb Williams Called ‘Next Man Up’
Spotrac’s Michael Ginnitti put out a list of the projected “Next Man Up” contracts at every NFL position — meaning the next contracts that will reset the market for every different position.
After 2024, it was impossible to think Daniels would be left off the list, but when it comes to the 6 quarterbacks drafted in the 1st round in 2024, only New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (No. 3 overall) and Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (No. 1 overall) were included.
The current highest-paid player in the NFL is Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, who signed a 4-year, $240 million contract extension before the 2024 season. While Ginnitti has Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson as the “Next Man Up” to take over the No. 1 spot, he has Maye and Williams listed as waiting in the wings.
That leaves Daniels out in the cold.
Depending on how the 2026 season shakes out, there’s a good possibility both Maye and Williams land contracts for around $65 million per year.
Commanders Focused on Defense in Offseason
The Commanders tried to improve their offense following the 2024 season, making trades for All-Pro left offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil and All-Pro wide receiver Deebo Samuel, as well as signing All-Pro wide receiver Terry McLaurin to a 3-year, $97 million contract extension.
They also used their 1st-round pick (No. 29 overall) in the 2025 NFL draft on offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr.
In 2026, the Commanders seem to have taken the opposite approach and gone all-in on defense, using their 1st round pick (No. 7 overall) on Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles after signing a gaggle of defensive free agents to big-money deals led by edge rusher Odafe Oweh (4 years, $100 million), edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson (1 year, $11 million), inside linebacker Leo Chenal (3 years, $24.75 million), defensive tackle Tim Settle (3 years, $24 million), and cornerback Amik Robertson (2 years, $16 million).
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