Washington, D.C. – On Thursday, the Washington Commanders made a bold move in their ongoing quest to find a franchise quarterback by selecting Jayden Daniels, the Heisman Trophy winner from LSU, with the second overall pick of the NFL draft.
Daniels becomes the sixth quarterback chosen in the first round by Washington in the Super Bowl era, adding to the franchise’s rich history of trying to secure a stable presence at the quarterback position. The Commanders have a legacy of drafting signal callers, but history shows that not all of these picks have panned out to be the stars the team was hoping for.
One notable example is Dwayne Haskins, whom the team selected in the first round but failed to live up to expectations during his time with the Commanders. Haskins started 13 games over two seasons before being released and tragically passing away in a car accident. In hindsight, the team may have overlooked other potential quarterbacks who could have had a more successful career in Washington.
Another example is Robert Griffin III, who showed promise with a record-setting rookie season but struggled to maintain that success due to injuries. Washington traded up to select Griffin with high hopes, but ultimately, the team may have missed out on other talented quarterbacks in the draft.
Throughout the years, Washington has had a mixed record when it comes to selecting quarterbacks in the first round. Some picks, like Gardner Minshew II, have gone on to have success in the league, while others, like Kirk Cousins, have shown potential but struggled to reach their full capabilities.
As Washington looks to Jayden Daniels as their latest hope for a franchise quarterback, fans will be watching closely to see if he can break the cycle of disappointments and lead the team to success in the future. Only time will tell if Daniels will be the missing piece that Washington has been searching for all these years.