Commanders' McLaurin in awe of 'confident' Daniels

Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin lauded rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels' early influence on Washington's offensive system.

"The first thing that stood out to me about Jayden Daniels is the poise he came in with. ... It seemed like he knew the entire offense when we got there," McLaurin said on ESPN's "SportCenter" show. "He's in there calling the huddles through the walkthroughs. He's in there calling the plays, and he's extremely confident.

"It's a testament to his preparation and his studying that he did on his own. But also, I think the kid loves ball, and he has a good feel for the game. So I think he really came in with the right mindset and energy, and guys are already gravitating to him."

The Commanders drafted Daniels second overall in April. Washington has started a different Week 1 QB in each of the last seven seasons. The team traded Sam Howell - who made 17 starts in 2023 - to the Seattle Seahawks this offseason.

Washington also hired head coach Dan Quinn, who brought in Kliff Kingsbury as the club's new offensive coordinator.

"You'll see an offense this year who's playing with a lot of energy, who's playing together, who's playing unbelievable without the ball. ... That's a testament to the unselfishness (needed for) success as an offense," McLaurin added. "There's only one ball that can go around."

An electric dual-threat signal-caller, Daniels posted his best season at LSU in 2023, accounting for 50 touchdowns en route to claiming the Heisman Trophy.

McLaurin - considered one of the sport's best receivers in contested catches - has topped 1,000 yards in four straight seasons despite the Commanders' inconsistency at the quarterback position. He earned his first Pro Bowl nod in 2022.

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