With only a few weeks left in the regular season, Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski graded all 32 first-round picks in the 2024 NFL draft, with only two receiving a “A+” grade: Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels and Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers.
“A franchise-changing quarterback selection is the best any team can hope to select in the draft,” Sobleski pointed out. “The Washington Commanders did so with Jayden Daniels, this year’s second overall pick. The LSU product has been the front-runner for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year all season. He now ranks fifth overall, with a 69.6 completion percentage and 71.7 QBR. Furthermore, he has 590 rushing yards and six touchdowns.
One would wonder if Sobleski might have given Daniels a “A++” grade, considering he has doubled the Commanders’ win total since 2023, with the team at 8-5 and in the eighth and final playoff place in the NFC.
Daniels Provided the NFL’s Signature Moment of 2024.
If there is one moment that defines the 2024 NFL regular season, it is Daniels’ 65-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass to Noah Brown as time expired to defeat the Chicago Bears in Week 8.
Daniels defeated Marcus Mariota to become the starting in training camp after being taken second overall out of LSU and signing him to a four-year, $37.7 million contract while the Bears selected USC quarterback Caleb Williams first overall and named him starter without competition.
Daniels has previously proved that he can overcome adversity. Daniels injured his rib on a long run on the opening offensive series against the Carolina Panthers the week before the Hail Mary against the Bears, and he did not play the remainder of the game; it was unclear whether he would even return to face the Bears.
Following a 7-2 start — the Commanders’ best since 1996 — Daniels and his team dropped three straight games before rebounding with a much-needed victory over the Tennessee Titans in Week 13.
Washington is aiming for its first winning season since 2016 and a return to the playoffs after missing out in 2020. The Commanders have not won a postseason game since beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Wild Card Round after the 2005 season.
Bowers Could Be the Next Great NFL Tight End.
Bowers, the only other player to receive a “A+” mark, hasn’t received nearly as much attention as Daniels since he plays for a bad club — the Raiders are 2-10 and have already been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.
Bowers built out a career as possibly the finest tight end in college football history in three seasons at Georgia, when he was a three-time All-American, won two College Football Playoff national championships, and received the Mackey Award as college football’s top tight end twice.
Bowers, 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds, was picked with the 13th overall choice in the first round by the Raiders. He ranks fourth in the NFL in receiving with 84 receptions for 884 yards and four touchdowns.
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