Like leaves falling off a tree, another first-round pick has left the Washington Commanders. Washington bid adieu on Thursday to receiver Jahan Dotson, a 2022 first-round pick who was dealt to division rival Philadelphia.
Dotson is the latest in a long line of Washington first-round picks who have failed to pan out over the past 40 years. While not every pick over that span has turned out poorly — Champ Bailey, for example, is in the Hall of Fame, Sean Taylor appeared to be heading in that direction prior to his tragic death, and Trent Williams appears to be bound for Canton, Ohio — the majority of the franchise’s first-round picks over that span could be classified as disappointing.
The good news for Commanders fans is that rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels — based on how he played during the team’s first two preseason games — looks like he is going to break the franchise’s trend of underwhelming first-round picks.
Daniels’ NFL debut started off on the right foot when he arrived at MetLife Stadium rocking the jersey of Doug Williams, a franchise legend who in 1988 became the first starting Black quarterback to win the Super Bowl. Daniels’ play lived up to his wardrobe choice, as he started the game by directing an 11-play, 70-yard scoring drive in what was his only series of work.
The drive included three third-down conversions, with Daniels playing a key role in two of those conversions. The first was a 42-yard dime from Daniels to Dyami Brown on a third-and-6 play that got Washington into scoring position.
Eight plays later (and one play after running back Austin Ekeler picked up a first down on a third-and-3 play), Daniels capped off his first NFL drive with a 3-yard touchdown run that came off of a perfect play-action fake. Daniels was also the recipient of an excellent block on the outside by veteran tight end Zach Ertz.
Daniels was just as good the following…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/why-jayden-daniels-will-break-washingtons-alarming-run-of-failed-first-round-picks/
Author : Bryan DeArdo
Publish date : 2024-08-22 19:37:38
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