Jayden Daniels
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Cam Newton is worried that Jayden Daniels could flame out for the Commanders
The Washington Commanders are on the rise after they made it all the way to the NFC Championship Game last season, and easily the biggest reason for their success is Jayden Daniels. After a stunning rookie campaign, expectations are high for Daniels heading into his sophomore season, as it’s Super Bowl or bust for the Commanders after they came up just short of finding their way to the big game last year.
While the heightened expectations are a good thing, is Daniels going to be able to live up to the hype? That’s the question former NFL MVP Cam Newton is wondering, as he cited a former quarterback for Washington, Robert Griffin III, who starred early in his career before quickly flaming out.
Cam Newton Reveals His Jayden Daniels Concern
Cam Newton discusses with Wale of the possibility of Jayden Daniels being a “one-hit wonder” and similarities between him & RG3
Some viewers believe Cam is jealous and hating on Jayden.
Thoughts? 🤔
(🎥:@FunkyFriday) pic.twitter.com/saDg61Smpi
— brandon (@JayDanielsMVP) July 5, 2025
After getting selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Daniels immediately starred for the Commanders last season. He played in all 17 games for Washington, throwing for 3,568 yards and 25 touchdowns, while also rushing for 891 yards and another six scores. Those strong numbers earned him a trip to the Pro Bowl and the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award.
It wasn’t long ago that another quarterback taken with the No. 2 pick experienced great success early on for Washington. Griffin was selected with the pick back in the 2012 NFL Draft, and similar to Daniels, he immediately won the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, while also getting selected to the Pro Bowl. However, a slew of injuries quickly sapped him of his athleticism, and his rookie season ended up being the best year of his career.
Could Daniels be subjected to a similar fate? That’s the question Newton is wondering as he enters his second year in the league with sky-high expectations after he took the Commanders all the way to the NFC Championship Game, where they ended up losing to the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
“Do you fear Jayden Daniels could be a potential one-hit wonder?” Newton asked popular hip-hop artist Wale on his “Funky Friday” podcast. “What makes him different? … There’s nobody who had the game in a chokehold like Robert Griffin III … I see that same thing happening for Jayden.”
Could Jayden Daniels Follow Robert Griffin III’s Path for the Commanders?
Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty ImagesCINCINNATI, OHIO – SEPTEMBER 23: Jayden Daniels #5 of the Washington Commanders celebrates after throwing a 27 yard touchdown pass against the Cincinnati Bengals during the fourth quarter at Paycor Stadium on September 23, 2024 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
There’s no doubt that there are a lot of similarities between Daniels and Griffin. They were selected with the same pick by the same team, and Griffin helped popularize the mobile style of play under center that Daniels appears to have mastered early on in his career. The big issue with Griffin was his health, as he was unable to keep himself on the field for long enough periods in order for Washington to remain competitive.
If Daniels can stay healthy, the Commanders should have a shot to win every time he takes the field for them. As Newton notes, nothing is given in the NFL, but unless something catastrophic happens, it appears Daniels is here to stay, and he will look to prove as much when he returns to the field for the 2025 campaign.