Jayden Daniels is forever inked in LSU lore. Daniels put together one of the greatest offensive seasons in college football history for the Tigers in 2023, resulting in him winning the Heisman Trophy.
After being selected No. 2 overall by the Washington Commanders in the 2024 NFL Draft, Daniels shined in his rookie NFL season. His sensational play earned him NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, and with the 2025 season quickly approaching, the former Tiger is eyeing an even bigger sophomore season. An MVP-winning season is certainly within the realm of possibility for the dual-threat QB.
Jayden Daniels sits top-5 in NFL MVP odds
While some may speculate about a potential sophomore slump, Daniels is a serious contender for the 2025 NFL MVP Award.
According to DraftKings, Daniels has the fifth-best odds to win MVP this season. With odds of +750, only Lamar Jackson (+550), Josh Allen (+550), Joe Burrow (+650), and Patrick Mahomes (+700) have better odds than Daniels. That's pretty good company.
Last season, Daniels became just the third rookie in NFL history to surpass 3,000 passing yards and 600 rushing yards, joining the likes of Cam Newton and Robert Griffin III. The LSU product was recently listed at No. 21 on the NFL's Top 100 list, signaling high praise entering 2025.
The Commanders brought in Pro Bowl wide receiver Deebo Samuel to be a top target for Daniels this season. His leading receiver from last season, Terry McLaurin, remains in contract talks with the franchise, and has even requested a trade. However, Daniels seems confident that McLaurin will be on the field on Sept. 7 when the Commanders open the season against the Giants.
Daniels' rookie season was historic on many levels
Playing in all 17 regular season games, Daniels set a Commanders franchise record for passing yards by a rookie with 3,568. He threw for 25 touchdowns, and his completion percentage of 69 percent set an NFL record for rookie QBs. He was also lethal on the ground. His 891 rushing yards also set an all-time record for rookie QBs. In total, Daniels' efforts helped the Commanders average 28.5 points per game, which - you guessed it - set an NFL record for rookie QBs.
Daniels was also extremely clutch in 2024. The Commanders played in a lot of close games, and Daniels was there to deliver dramatic results. He threw a rookie-record 12 touchdown passes in the fourth quarter or overtime, with five serving as walk-off touchdowns in the final 30 seconds.
He led the Washington franchise to the postseason for the first time since 2020, and its first postseason win since 1991. His strong play in the regular season translated to the postseason, as he completed 65.8 percent of his passes for 822 yards to go along with five touchdowns and just one interception in three postseason games. He also ran for 135 yards and a touchdown on 35 carries.
After picking up wins against the Buccaneers in the Wild Card round and the Lions in the Divisional round, the Commanders were just one win away from the Super Bowl before ultimately falling to the Eagles. If Daniels replicates or exceeds his play from last season in 2025, not only is he an MVP candidate, but the Commanders are Super Bowl contenders.