What makes Jayden Daniels ‘different’ from other QB prospects?
Besides his outstanding deep-ball passes, it's his ability to elude defenders and get creative outside of the pocket that makes Daniels a top-tier prospect.
In a draft class brimming with quarterback talent, the top three quarterback prospects – USC’s Caleb Williams, LSU’s Jayden Daniels, and UNC’s Drake Maye – are distinctly different.
The Bears have long been projected to take Williams first off the board, with Daniels and Maye going next to either Washington (No. 2) or New England (No. 3).
Daniels, in particular, has long stood out for his explosive plays and ability to elude an open field. His deep-ball accuracy is outstanding and his legs have been his get-out-of-jail-free card under pressure.
The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner knows that it’s his dual-threat capabilities that have set him apart from other players in the draft.
“Just my escapability, man. My legs — I don’t know, God blessed me with those so I gotta keep using them,” Daniels said on Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson’s “Nightcap” podcast.
It’s those same legs that allowed Daniels to lead the nation in quarterback rushing yards, carrying the 23-year-old to 1,134 yards during his senior season.
And while his ability to creatively move down the field is an important facet of his play, Daniels’s arm talent isn’t to be overlooked, either. The FBS leader in passer rating threw 40 touchdowns last season with just four interceptions.
For Daniels, he says what makes him different from other quarterbacks in the draft is his competitiveness.
“I’m a dog, man… my escapability… you give me a lane, I could go 80 [yards]… that separates me,” Daniels said. “I mean I know they all got high football IQs, but I’ll say just that dog in me… this is all I know, you know I grew up football. I was always doubted, people doubted me to this day. But I take that and add it to the fire.”
In the months leading up to the draft, Daniels’s critics have remained vocal about the 6-foot-4 quarterback’s physical build. Weighing in at just 210 pounds during LSU’s pro day, scouts are worried about his durability.
Will his slender frame be able to withstand the rough and repeated contact he’ll face in the pros?
According to Daniels, he’s had multiple discussions with teams regarding his weight ahead of the 2024 season.
“Last year I was, like, at 205, so they were like, ‘Okay, we wanna put on weight progressively but we ain’t gonna overload you so that your play starts to digress,’” Daniels said.
While Daniels didn’t go into diet specifics, he did confess that he plans on “staying true to himself,” including retaining his pre-game omelet and waffles routine.
“I can get away with a little bit. I eat fast food still to this day,” Daniels added.
Round one of the 2024 NFL Draft kicks off on April 25 at 8 p.m.
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