Not many would have predicted the Washington Commanders and Jayden Daniels to have the year they had in 2024.
After being a four-win team in 2023, to then be transformed into a 12-5 outfit who made the NFC Championship game after back-to-back road playoff wins, Washington's rebuild has been fast-tracked.
Now, we add in this offseason's additions for Laremy Tunsil and Deebo Samuel, both of whom were traded for, and the Commanders have signalled their 2025 intentions to the rest of the league - all the chips are being pushed into the middle.
But how seriously can the Commanders be taken to not only replicate what transpired in 2024, but build on it and go even further?
CBS Sports has named Quinn's unit the No. 1 challenger to the Philadelphia Eagles' Super Bowl crown.
"They got trounced in the 2024 NFC title game, but the fact they made it there at all speaks to the franchise-altering talent of Jayden Daniels, whose rookie-year dynamism was even more pronounced than, say, that of C.J. Stroud the year prior," CBS Sports writes. "Now Daniels has a sturdier left tackle in Laremy Tunsil and a Swiss Army knife in Deebo Samuel to help fill out Dan Quinn's veteran-infused lineup."
Now, C.J. Stroud is the perfect example of how success in the NFL isn't linear. He had a superb rookie season, and then came back down to earth a touch in Year 2.
Given what the Commanders put around Jayden this offseason, that can't happen, and based on what we saw in his rookie season, there's nothing to suggest a sophomore slump is on its way.
Related: Commanders' 'Secret Weapon' Ranked As Best 'Under The Radar' Signing
The Commanders were the laughing stock of the NFL for years, but it's taken 12 months to completely change the narrative about the organization.
Really, if you are the Commanders and you want attention for your incredible rise to power? You're getting that.
Led by Quinn and Daniels, Washington is beginning to emerge as a genuine NFC power. Yes, it's only one year that we have as tangible evidence, but in 2025, the Commanders feel poised to make a big statement.
Will that be a Super Bowl triumph? It certainly won't be from a lack of trying.
Related: Commanders $90M Per Year Jayden Daniels Mind-Blowing Contract Coming?
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This story was originally published March 26, 2025 at 9:36 AM.