Simms’ 2026 QB Countdown: Jayden Daniels
Chris Simms and Stugotz break down Jayden Daniels' "superstar" ability, who despite his physical concerns, executes multiple facets of the game at a high level and lands at No. 9 on Simms' QB Countdown.
Video Transcript
Number nine, Jayden Daniels.
Right there.
Yes.
Yes.
I was just applying logic.
We know how good Jayden Daniels was his rookie year.
he was out last year, and so to put him anywhere ahead of number nine to me would've been crazy.
but go ahead, Jayden Daniels.
Yeah.
Well, no, and yeah, you know, you're saying it right, and, and damn, the guys that are in front of him, they're, they're no, they're no slouches, they're no slappies.
Yes.
He's g- we're, we're gonna talk about some guys here over the next few days where you're gonna go, "Damn, he's an awesome football player."
But Jayden Daniels- Right has superstar talent, you know that.
You said it right.
The year, r- year one was special.
Last year, and part of his negativity, yeah, is his frame, his body.
Is he gonna be able to stay healthy?
That's something you worry about with him.
Gosh, I saw him a picture at OTAs last week, and, you know, I still have the same concerns or thoughts when I see him sometimes and go, "Oh my gosh, man, I wish he would p- just put a little bit more meat on his bones."
And, and- Sure so you worry about that being an issue going forward.
But really as a player, there's really not much to worry about with Jayden Daniels.
I mean, he does everything pretty awesome.
If, you know- Yeah I mean, again, and we know the running's special.
His accuracy throwing the football, I mean, he rarely misses the target except on a few cases, and I'll get into that in a, in a minute.
But of course can make all the throws, throws off his back foot, can throw it sidearm and do all of that.
a- and he's a really awesome decision-maker.
So yeah, Jayden Daniels is a guy that's number nine, and he could be number three or four, you know, next year or the year after.
He's got that type of talent.
So he was number five on your list last year for good reason.
And I'm wondering, Chris, if I guarantee you 17 games of Jayden Daniels, where do you think he would finish on this list?
Oh.
17 g- he's healthy the entire season.
You know, I don't know if it would make him bump more up this year, maybe a spot or two.
It would be more about making me feel better in future rankings, I think.
That's, that's really where I'd start to go, "Okay, th- like w- okay, he's learned how to play.
He can stay healthy."
We saw that in the year w- in year one, so, you know, hopefully he can replicate that.
But, but yeah, this is something I think we're all gonna question.
And I think some of the people that didn't like him in the draft process, this was one of their big concerns, is just I don't love the body, I don't know if it's gonna hold up.
but, you know, the talent's real.
And it, and really, when you get into the negativities, to me there's only, you know, a few negative things about Jayden Daniels, and really only a few negative things about all these guys we're gonna talk about from here on out, because they're awesome.
Yes.
They're superstars.
But, like, power in his arm?
Okay.
Yeah.
Compared to some of the guys we're gonna talk about here later and all that, it's not as powerful as some of them, right?
He, he can't do that, you know.
Yeah.
And when he does wanna throw his fastball at a time, one thing that kinda jumped at me, jumped out to me, was that he, he can lose control of the football.
Not, like, egregiously, not like you're like, "Oh my gosh, he missed that by 10 feet," but when he wants to throw a little juice on it, yeah, the ball might be up here and bounce off somebody's hands or be a little bit behind.
That was something that jumped out to me watching him back on film.
And, you know, he could work on maybe some different arm angles and things like that as well.
But other than that, it's nitpicky.
And this is a big year for Washington, and it's a big year for Jayden Daniels in this aspect.
We have David Blough, the OC, who's a really unproven commodity.
You know, I know Jayden Daniels was not happy about Kliff Kingsbury being fired.
That was not- Mm-hmm.
He, that, that was his guy.
And I think- Really?
that was a little bit more of an issue than people realize.
And I don't know- why he was fired anyways.
I don't.
You know, I come back to the politics of coaching a little bit, and like, you know, Dan Quinn might be on the hot seat, and he was like, "Wait, if the offense is good and I'm on the hot seat, they might fire me and hire Kliff Kingsbury.
Hey, you're fired, Kliff Kingsbury.
Get the hell out of the building."
So now he doesn't have a threat.
That's what it kinda seems to me from 10,000 feet above, but that'll be interesting to see how that unfolds.
I mean, technically they could still do that.
Yeah, you're right.
I mean, I, I guess they could.
They, they could.
Right.
Yes, they, they could do that, yes, at some point during the year, no doubt.
So Chris, Dominique Foxworth once told me, I texted him about something, he was I asked him about Lamar Jackson.
He was on the sidelines for a, a, a Ravens practice, and I think it was his rookie year, maybe his second year.
Yeah.
And I said, "How good is Lamar Jackson?"
And he said, "The guy is so good, on a, on a field of world-class athletes, he stands out as the best athlete on this field," and I marvel that, that response.
That's the same feeling you get when you look at Jayden Daniels, out there on the NFL field.
He seems to be the best athlete on any field that he walks onto.
Is that fair?
He's, he's, he's in the conversation, there's no doubt.
Yes.
I mean, he's definitely- Right one of the most dangerous athletes that are out there when he's out there, and he's healthy and going.
And yes, that, that's what's awesome.
And then, you know, he's got the right approach as a quarterback and just the right touch overall to lead a football team.
He never gets too high, never gets too low.
He plays big in the pocket.
You know, that's the other thing too, when you watch him.
He does.
I mean, he's, 'cause e- even though he's frail, he's tall and he can, he can see over the linemen and, and, and make throws there when people are kind of in his face, and that's what I like.
So yeah, Jayden Daniels maybe not Lamar status as far as an athlete, but it's up there and he's damn special, and yeah, Washington's got themselves one in, in him at quarterback.
The NFC East is gonna be fun, huh?
I, it, it- Jackson, Darnold- It really is Hurts, maybe straight in, yes, Jalen Hurts.
It's gonna be fun.
Definitely.
Yeah, yeah.
Definitely.
Yes.
I mean, we know the Eagles are good.
I think the Giants are gonna be a real pain in the ass.
And I think- Yes the Cowboys are better than people realize.
And then, like- Yeah yeah, like you're saying, Washington's made a lot of adjustments to their team.
So, I, I agree.
I think it's gonna be a, a much better division maybe than people realize.
