When we think of what the Washington Commanders' offense can be in Year 2 with Jayden Daniels and Kliff Kingsbury, we immediately go to one that can lead this team to the Super Bowl.
With Daniels' projected improvement, Terry McLaurin now having Deebo Samuel as his running mate, Brian Robinson Jr., who has been good for at least 700 rushing yards in his three seasons, plus veteran tight end Zach Ertz, there are a lot of good pieces around Jayden.
But not too good, it appears.
For ESPN's Bill Barnwell, in ranking all 32 teams' skill position players, Washington, somewhat surprisingly, comes in at No. 13.
"The arrival of quarterback Jayden Daniels and coordinator Kliff Kingsbury leveled everyone up in Washington," Barnwell writes. "The big addition at receiver is Deebo Samuel who averaged 110 scrimmage yards per game during his All-Pro season in 2021 and 64 scrimmage yards per contest across his five other seasons. Ertz and Ekeler are back, and Brian Robinson Jr. has developed into a reasonable between-the-tackles runner, but I want to see whether this team's high 2024 draft picks develop."
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn (L) and quarterback Jayden Daniels (5).
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn (L) and quarterback Jayden Daniels (5).
Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
The picks Barnwell is talking about are tight end Ben Sinnott and receiver Luke McCaffrey. With the receiver depth chart reading McLaurin, Deebo, and then Noah Brown as the top three, someone needs to push that trio along.
Is that McCaffrey? Washington hopes so.
As for Sinnott, he did show flashes last season, but only managed to play 27 percent of the offensive snaps in his rookie year. With Ertz back on a one-year deal, this season gives Ben the chance to show that maybe he is the one to take over in 2026.
Yeah, that might seem like a big leap, but if he and McCaffery, along with rookie Jaylin Lane, can produce something tangible in 2025, this Commanders offense will be ranked far higher than No. 13 come the end of the year.