On June 4, rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels signed a 4-year, $37.7 million contract with $24.3 million as a signing bonus, officially making him a very wealthy guy.
That money may seem insignificant in the future if Daniels lives up to his promise and makes the Washington Commanders, who chose him second overall in the 2024 NFL draft, competitive.
On June 4, quarterback Trevor Lawrence of the Jacksonville Jaguars, the first overall choice in the 2021 NFL Draft, agreed to a five-year, $275 million contract deal with a $200 million guarantee.
Daniels is the highest draft selection from 2024 to have signed a deal thus far, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. A message on the team’s official X account was also used by the Commanders to confirm the deal.
According to Rapoport on X, “Jaden Daniels has signed a rookie contract with the #Commanders and the No. 2 overall pick, @Agentbutler1,” has reached an agreement. “He receives a slotted $4 million, $37.75 million fully guaranteed contract with a $24.3 million signing bonus. The best draft selection to be signed.
Daniels’ contract has a five-year option that the Commanders may exercise in 2028, but they won’t have to decide on it until after the 2026 campaign.
Daniels Has Elite Dual-Threat Potential in NFL
Daniels played the first three seasons of his college career at Arizona State before transferring to LSU for his final two seasons in 2022 and 2023.
Daniels won the Heisman Trophy in 2023 after he threw for 3,812 yards, 40 touchdowns and 4 interceptions to go with 1,134 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.
Over the course of his college career, Daniels started an incredible 55 games and set the NCAA single-season record with a 208.0 passer rating in 2023. He’s also the only player in FBS history with 12,000 passing yards and 3,000 rushing yards.
“With five seasons of starting experience under his belt, Daniels possesses a rare blend of playmaking talent and command from the pocket,” NFL analyst Lance Zierlein wrote in his pre-draft evaluation. “He’s tall but slender, so there will be concerns about durability, considering how often he ran in college.”
Daniels Still Not Officially QB1 for Commanders
While Daniels hasn’t been officially named the starting quarterback but has been winning over teammates and coaches in the offseason and remaining humble as he tries to become QB1 for a franchise that hasn’t won a playoff game since 2005.
“I ain’t a star quarterback yet,” Daniels told ESPN’s John Keim. “I got long way to go. I’m a rookie.”
According to Keim’s story, Daniels is at the team facility every morning by 5:45 a.m. to watch film and do walk-throughs in the practice bubble with rookie wide receiver and third-round pick Luke McCaffrey.
Discover more from SuperD24
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.