WSH • QB • #5
The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner enters the league as one of the most polarizing — but high upside — elite prospects in recent memory. Already 23 years old, Daniels (6’4/210) was a 2019, pre-pandemic enrollee at Arizona State, largely muddling through his three campaigns in Tempe before a transfer-infused step forward at LSU in 2022. He then went supernova for the Heisman, posting a ludicrous 40:4 TD:INT total through the air while churning up 135/1,134/10 with his legs. Those absurd numbers speak to a boom/bust skill-set that focuses on deep passing and tucking-and-running whenever possible. Daniels handles pressure well but also invites it with his play style, and has shown blatant disregard for his body. The highlight-reel hits he took all too often in the SEC will threaten to land him on the injury report in the NFL. Daniels is going to have to rein in his game without losing the wild hair spark that makes him special. It can be done, though it is the kind of transition that has proven difficult to pull off. Either way, Daniels’ dual-threat game should make him an instant fantasy superstar as long as he can stay on the field. Real-life progress doesn’t even need to follow for the time being, but if Daniels can clean up his game, he’s in rarefied air when it comes to ceiling. In Washington, Daniels will operate in Kliff Kingsbury’s horizontal raid offense. He could easily lead all QBs in rushing yards this season. Daniels’ propensity to run will hurt target volume for Terry McLaurin and the rest of Washington’s pass catchers.
9 months ago
April 26, 2024 12:28 AM
