Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels is already one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks. As a rookie, Daniels led the Commanders to a 12-win season and the franchise’s first appearance in the NFC championship game in 33 years. It wasn’t only Washington’s first championship game appearance in 33 years, but it was the franchise’s most wins since that 1991 Super Bowl championship season.

While Daniels didn’t do it alone, he was the catalyst. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft burst onto the scene in the Commanders’ shocking Week 3 win at Cincinnati on Monday Night Football. His touchdown pass to Terry McLaurin to clinch the victory with around two minutes remaining was one of the best throws of the season.

And yes, there’s also the Hail Mary, too.

Daniels would set franchise and NFL records throughout his first professional season, so it’s no surprise he’s earned respect as one of the top passers heading into 2025.

Mike Sando of The Athletic released his annual NFL QB Tiers list for 2025 and ranked Daniels as No. 6, the first quarterback in Tier 2.

Here’s part of what Sando wrote about Daniels:

No second-year QB has made a higher Tiers debut than Daniels. His 1.71 average and 17 top-tier votes break the records C.J. Stroud set last year. Stroud had eclipsed 2021 Justin Herbert.

“What I respect most is it never seems too big for him,” a defensive coordinator said of Daniels. “He would stand in the pocket and deliver the ball. Once we saw him running around, it was, ‘OK, he is going to be a problem.'”

Daniels became the only rookie starting quarterback in the Super Bowl era to reach a conference championship game without a top defense (Washington ranked 24th in defensive EPA per play, per TruMedia).

“He’s a 2 with the arrow up,” another defensive coordinator said. “He can run, he can throw with accuracy and he’s really calm — the s— ain’t too big for him, and it’s easy to see when you are playing him. He doesn’t get flustered.”

A sophomore slump has been mentioned for Daniels by several people when discussing 2025. That’s a good talking point for the offseason, and it’s not out of the question. It’s tough to say it will not happen. But there are so many reasons to believe Daniels is different. Washington got stronger around Daniels, trading for Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil and using a first-round pick on offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. The Commanders also traded for wide receiver Deebo Samuel to pair with Terry McLaurin, and re-signed Zach Ertz.

Here is Sando’s top 10:

T1. Patrick Mahomes (Tier 1)T1. Joe Burrow (Tier 1)3. Josh Allen (Tier 1)4. Lamar Jackson (Tier 1)5. Matthew Stafford (Tier 1)6. Jayden Daniels (Tier 2)7. Justin Herbert (Tier 2)8. Jared Goff (Tier 2)T9. C.J. Stroud (Tier 2)T9. Jalen Hurts (Tier 2)