The NFL has never seen a rookie quarterback who had a better all-around season than the Washington Commanders' Jayden Daniels in 2024. If he can raise his level of play to carry Washington to more big things in 2025, there would be a fair chance his reward is winning his first NFL Most Valuable Player award.
While Josh Allen edged Lamar Jackson for MVP last season, Daniels finished seventh in the voting. He was also behind running back Saquon Barkley and three more veteran quarterbacks, Joe Burrow, Jared Goff and Patrick Mahomes.
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Had the playoffs been a factor in that MVP race, there's a good chance Daniels would have finished as high as fourth after he led the Commanders to the NFC championship game, losing to Barkley's eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
Although Daniels is in fifth in MVP odds for 2025, behind Allen, Jackson, Mahomes and Burrow, no one would be surprised if an elite jump in play lands Daniels the league's most coveted individual award. Before looking at what winning MVP in Year 2 would mean, let's first look back on Daniels' amazing initial NFL feats:
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Here are all the main running and passing categories in which Daniels ranked fourth or higher last season. Between statistical metrics, leadership and other intangibles, the Washington QB was sensational in his first season in the pros.
Daniels, through the regular season and playoffs, beat some tough competition to break through as the best rookie QB in NFL history -- including what RGIII did for Washington in 2012. Forget any talk about sophomore slump -- it's now reasonable to have sky-high expectations in Year 2.
The Commanders upgraded left tackle (Laremy Tunsil) and No. 2 wide receiver (Deebo Samuel Sr.) for Daniels. They also added a more dynamic young running back (rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt). Those three additions already paid off big-time to support Daniels in Washington's 21-6 rout of NFC East rival New York Giants in Week 1.
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Daniels and the Commanders have a much tougher task, on the road in Lambeau Field against former Dallas Cowboys nemesis Micah Parsons and the Green Bay Packers in Week 2. At the same time, "Thursday Night Football" provides the ideal prime-time showcase to answer what Allen and Jackson, the past two MVPs, did in the Buffalo Bills-Baltimore Ravens shootout on "Sunday Night Football."
The second-year QB bar, however, has been set high by multiple passers (and one runner):
Three of the names who made the lists above -- Mahomes, Jackson and Marino -- are among four QBs to win NFL MVP for their second year in the league. The fourth is Kurt Warner, who did so for the 1999 Rams. The other two sophomore MVPs are running backs, Jim Brown (1958) and Earl Campbell (1979).
Mahomes and Jackson will be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The rest are already there. Beyond that highest individual honor, Daniels is looking to complete unfinished business and get the Commanders to the Super Bowl.
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Four QBs won Super Bowls in their second seasons: Warner, Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger and Russell Wilson. Warner should get Canton company from all three in time. Three got to the Super Bowl and lost there in their second seasons: Marino, Burrow and Colin Kaepernick. There's a good chance Burrow can get on a Hall of Fame path to join Marino.
Daniels was dazzling as a rookie, one of the best stories in the NFL in 2024. But history shows a second special season to start his career with personal production and team winning is the true indication that he will be an all-time great quarterback.