What QB tier is Jayden Daniels in ahead of 2026 season?
· Yahoo Sports
One year ago, when analysts were naming the top NFL quarterbacks ahead of training camp, Jayden Daniels of the Washington Commanders was often high on those lists. Daniels was ranked inside the top five on many lists, alongside Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Joe Burrow.
That's elite company, for sure. Was it warranted? Absolutely. Daniels was coming off a transformative rookie season, where he led the Commanders to a 12-5 record and a spot in the NFC Championship Game for the first time in 33 years. Daniels did it with fewer offensive weapons than some of the other top quarterbacks — and as a rookie. In the playoffs, Daniels' teammates didn't carry him; he put them on his back. He only needed more help.
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So much was expected last season. Unfortunately, he missed 10 games after dealing with three separate injuries. He played only four games from start to finish. His injury troubles were a microcosm for the Commanders' season. The entire team battled injuries. All of that resulted in a disappointing 5-12 record.
While Daniels battled injuries and missed time, his fellow second-year quarterbacks, Drake Maye, Caleb Williams and Bo Nix thrived. It was almost like everyone forgot about Daniels. Then the playoffs came, and none came close to doing what Daniels did in 2024.
Where do things stand ahead of the 2026 season?
CBS recently ranked all 32 projected starting quarterbacks by tiers ahead of the new season. The first tier, which featured Allen, Mahomes, Burrow, Jackson and Matthew Stafford, was called "transcendent talents."
Daniels, along with 11 others, was in the second tier, which was titled "borderline stars."
Daniels (and Washington) hope that 2025 was merely a speedbump on his route to stardom. Prior to last year's injury-riddled campaign, he had a memorable 2024 season that culminated in Washington's first NFC title game appearance in 33 years.
Interestingly, Maye, Williams, and Nix are also in that same tier. Others include Jalen Hurts, Sam Darnold, Jared Goff, Brock Purdy, Jordan Love, Justin Herbert, Dak Prescott, and Trevor Lawrence. That's an interesting tier. Darnold rose on that list after last season, and Lawrence finally appeared to deliver on that immense promise that made him a former No. 1 overall pick. Herbert is still missing something despite elite talent, while Prescott has yet to experience playoff success.
This certainly seems fair for Daniels after a lost 2025 season. He appears to be hungrier than ever to put it behind him.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: What QB tier is Jayden Daniels in ahead of 2026 season?