• Daniels provides to his trophy case in Yr 1: After profitable PFF’s Offensive Rookie of the Yr, the Commanders’ beginning quarterback claims PFF’s general Rookie of the Yr honor.
• A season to construct on: Daniels completed forward of Josh Allen (eighth), Patrick Mahomes (tenth) and C.J. Stroud (eleventh), amongst others, in PFF’s wins above alternative metric in 2024.
• 2025 NFL Draft season is right here: Attempt PFF’s best-in-class Mock Draft Simulator and study 2025’s prime prospects whereas buying and selling and drafting in your favourite NFL workforce.
Estimated Studying Time: 4 minutes
PFF’s award winners are chosen by way of a voting course of unique to twenty-eight senior analysts, contributors and members of the PFF workers, making certain the selections mirror the insights and experience of these deeply concerned within the recreation.
This yr’s Rookie of the Yr is Jayden Daniels, who earned 26 votes to say the glory. The runner-up was Brock Bowers with two votes.
To view all 2024 award winners, click on right here.
Jayden Daniels performed like an elite quarterback in his first NFL season, making him totally deserving of PFF’s Rookie of the Yr award. He already took house PFF’s Offensive Rookie of the Yr award by posting exceptional statistics and being probably the most worthwhile piece of the workforce that made the most important turnaround this season, the Washington Commanders.
As talked about within the earlier article, Daniels’ 89.6 PFF general grade ranks second better of any certified rookie quarterback since 2006 — behind Russell Wilson. The one certified rookie at any place this season who graded larger than Daniels was Buccaneers operating again Bucky Irving, who performed lower than half of Daniels’ snaps and doesn’t shoulder the immense obligations that include taking part in quarterback.
The Commanders gained simply 4 video games in 2023 and picked second general on this previous draft, choosing Daniels. Whereas they did signal some worthwhile free brokers and put collectively a pleasant draft class, this was nonetheless a really flawed workforce with a quarterback who hid lots of its warts.
Commanders Crew Ranks in 2024
| Metric | Rank |
| PFF Receiving Grade | fifteenth |
| Non-QB PFF Dashing Grade | eleventh |
| PFF Move-Blocking Grade | twenty second |
| PFF Run-Blocking Grade | twenty fifth |
| PFF Protection Grade | twenty ninth |
Terry McLaurin carried a large load in an in any other case skinny receiving corps. The workforce’s steady of operating backs performed properly, however Daniels really led the workforce in a number of dashing classes — together with yards, missed tackles compelled and explosive runs. Washington’s offensive line and protection will want loads of enchancment earlier than the workforce turns into a constant Tremendous Bowl contender.
To place into perspective how worthwhile Daniels was to his workforce, we are able to flip to PFF’s wins above alternative metric.
PFF WAR by QBs in 2024
| Participant | WAR |
| Joe Burrow | 5.05 |
| Lamar Jackson | 3.67 |
| Justin Herbert | 3.49 |
| Geno Smith | 3.05 |
| Sam Darnold | 2.89 |
| Baker Mayfield | 2.68 |
| Jayden Daniels | 2.64 |
Daniels completed this common season because the seventh-most worthwhile quarterback within the league, based on PFF’s WAR metric. Keep in mind that he’s a rookie who missed roughly six quarters of motion and performed by way of a number of video games with a rib harm but completed larger within the rankings than Josh Allen (eighth), Patrick Mahomes (tenth) and C.J. Stroud (eleventh).
For one final body of reference for a way far forward of schedule Daniels is, we’ll evaluate his first full NFL season to that of the participant he’s usually judged towards.
| Metric | 2024 Daniels | 2019 Jackson |
| PFF Total Grade | 89.6 | 90.2 |
| PFF Passing Grade | 83.0 | 82.5 |
| PFF Dashing Grade | 88.2 | 90.6 |
| Yards per Move Try | 7.4 | 7.6 |
| Huge-Time Throws | 20 | 25 |
| Turnover-Worthy Performs | 11 | 12 |
A lot of Daniels’ efficiency metrics stack up properly with Lamar Jackson’s 2019 season. However whereas that was Jackson’s first full season as a starter and his first MVP marketing campaign, it was really his second yr within the NFL. He had loads of time to arrange with a significantly better roster than Daniels is at present working with. Daniels’ 2.64 WAR solely barely trails Jackson’s 2019 mark of two.87.
By a mixture of environment friendly play by way of the air and on the bottom, Daniels reenergized Washington’s franchise. He performed at a constant stage virtually each week of the common season and got here by way of within the clutch on a number of events to hold the Commanders to their finest season since 1991. That resumé makes Daniels the straightforward selection because the NFL’s premier rookie in 2024.
