The Washington Commanders knew early on they had a star on their hands in 2024 second-overall pick Jayden Daniels.
Washington reached the NFC Championship Game last season for the first time in 30 years, thanks mainly to Daniels' rise to stardom.
For coaches, Daniels' arrival was quick and painless. For some of the team's veteran players, the quarterback's star power was shown at the the start of the regular season.
Running back Austin Ekeler spoke on the Ross Tucker Football Podcast to detail just how special Daniels was in their Week 1 contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
"I remember hearing defensive players talking to him after the game, just kind of praising his speed," Ekeler said. "First game, not running to throw, but running to run. Kind of like college.
"We've seen him make some end-of-game plays—game-winner against Atlanta, basically the Eagles, the Bears. Shoot, the list goes on...Even in the playoffs, going down and winning that Bucs game."
Daniels and the Commanders lost their Week 1 matchup against the Buccaneers but got payback during the wild card round of the playoffs.
Along the way, Washington became one of the best offenses in the league. Ekeler and Daniels were key parts of the offense and will remain critical to future success.
Ekeler's time in the NFL will end within the next few years, though. Daniels' run is just getting started.
And that's what makes the quarterback, and the Commanders in general, so dangerous not only in the present, but also in the future.