A No. 2 overall pick looking mature and polished beyond his years, lighting it up in the preseason on the road and inspiring an abundance of hope for a perpetually moribund NFL franchise? For the New York Jets, the prevailing, perhaps subconscious sentiment of watching Jayden Daniels ball out at MetLife Stadium on Saturday had to be like holding a mirror up to their collective soul, to paraphrase a certain surprise cameo from Deadpool & Wolverine.
This is hardcore bait for Washington Commanders and Gang Green supporters alike. Not to take a steamy dump on Washington’s parade — though they deserve one for ridding themselves of disgraceful owner Dan Snyder — but let’s all take a deep breath on Daniels’ hot start.
Jayden Daniels launches it DEEP on his second throw
📱: Stream #WASvsNYJ on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/tGSoMxc4gI
— NFL (@NFL) August 10, 2024
Jayden Daniels keeps it for the TD on his opening drive 🔥 @JayD__5
📱: Stream #WASvsNYJ on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/HbRsYFo9m6
— NFL (@NFL) August 10, 2024
Look at all the positive feedback the reigning Heisman Trophy winner is already getting.
Lots of training camps I visit emphasize leadership and style and vibes with rebuilds, competitions, and young players….
Not. in. Washington.
EVERYONE talked about how SPECIAL and TALENTED and WOW Jayden is as a player. They couldn’t help it. It stuck out. https://t.co/aam304aY4J
— Kay Adams (@heykayadams) August 10, 2024
Seriously, that first drive could not have gone better for the No. 2 overall pick with all the hype. What a start for Jayden Daniels' NFL career.
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) August 10, 2024
Jayden Daniels moving up people’s Fantasy Football draft boards as we speak
— Alex Monaco (@Alex__Monaco) August 10, 2024
That’s the way you start your NFL career https://t.co/3rj9c8FUlk
— Timothy J Jones (@tjayjones8) August 10, 2024
Rookie of the year
— Playmaker TD 🏈 (@playmakerTD) August 10, 2024
He's going to be a star.
— Gridiron Media (@Gridiron_Media_) August 10, 2024
My lead-up into those Daniels highlights is meant to underscore just how meaningless the preseason is in the grand scheme of things. You just want your young lads to get reps in a live game situation. What happens therein doesn’t really matter. Look no further than Zach Wilson. The Jets drafted him with the second pick in 2021, and boy oh boy, was the hype so real during the NFL’s exhibition phase.
In Week 2 of the 2021 preseason, Wilson marched into Lambeau Field, got to meet his childhood idol/future teammate Aaron Rodgers, and promptly completed nine of 11 passes for 128 yards and two TDs. Lasers all over the yard. Looking off safeties. Young man was in his bag.
We legitimately had big-name media types out here acting like Wilson was Joe Namath 2.0, film dissections of his advanced processing, and data to suggest he’d be the Jets’ present and future at the most important position in North American sports.
Put together the top 3 plays from Zach Wilson #NYJvsGB performance
Zach Wilson: 9/11, 128 yds, 2 TDs, 0 INT, 0 sacks taken, 154.7 QB rating
Corey Davis: 4 rec, 70 yds, 17.5 avg
Tyler Kroft: 2 rec, 36 yds, 18 avg, 2 TDs
It’s coming together, & fast. It’s Our Time#Jets pic.twitter.com/q4ez988jKs
— Harrison Glaser (@NYJetsTFMedia) August 21, 2021
#Jets offense @ GB
-You'd never know it's preseason watching Corey Davis: playoff mentality on the field
-If AVT is even *average* he'd give this shaky iOL group a huge boost
-Wilson is doing all of the little things right and now you're seeing flashes of the big play ability pic.twitter.com/qfkWAX5tZ7
— Connor Rogers (@ConnorJRogers) August 22, 2021
Zach Wilson is 5-5 for 94 yards and a TD on throws 10+ yards downfield this preseason, per NFL Next Gen Stats.
He was 3-3 for 69 yards and a TD on such throws today. pic.twitter.com/vdAgvGyDgw
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) August 21, 2021
Zach Wilson Perfect Against The Packers?
🟢⚪️🟢⚪️🟢⚪️
We dive into the tape to find out how Zach has put two great weeks together!
My reaction & instant breakdown, now on the @All_Things_QB YouTube channel!
Quick Peek ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/PwVyjsLd8T
— Tim Jenkins (@TJenkinsElite) August 22, 2021
Zach Wilson is 2-for-2 in outstanding preseason games. Big difference from the regular season, of course, but as far as exhibition games go— about as good as Jets could ask for. https://t.co/cX8y624jtL
— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) August 21, 2021
That performance actually came after a stellar initial outing, where Wilson was sharp against the Giants in completing six of nine throws for 63 yards.
"He's got the steepest hill to climb out of all these rookies & I thought he played great. Considering what we've been reading & hearing out of training camp, this was more than merely encouraging. The kid's going to be a stud."-@PSchrags on Zach Wilson's @nyjets preseason debut. pic.twitter.com/3LWKOHdm3e
— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) August 16, 2021
Are you sweating yet, Commanders stans? LOL.
Obviously, I’m not saying that Jayden Daniels will be as bad as Zach Wilson. Just your annual reminder to chill out about the preseason. Football’s back and we’re all excited, but until Week 1 hits, let’s try to keep the discourse somewhat reasonable.
Gotta give Wilson’s Week 2 rookie preseason TDs to Tyler Kroft the standalone treatment for added emphasis. Look at these dimes!!
.@ZachWilson to @Kroft86! Touchdown @nyjets!
📺: #NYJvsGB on @nflnetwork (or check local listings)
📱: https://t.co/cpzdYUarjZ pic.twitter.com/u51PcDQfi1— NFL (@NFL) August 21, 2021
Zach Wilson ➡️ Tyler Kroft 😈🔥
The rookie QB doubles down with his TE for a pair of scores from the same distance!
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/YfTcetQzLa
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) August 21, 2021
And one last message to Jayden Daniels: Bro, I don’t care if Zach Wilson plays in Denver for the Broncos now. You can’t have your mom out here in The House That Zach Built. Real ones know what I’m talking about.
Commanders QB Jayden Daniels first drive in NFL:
•42 yard bomb
•marches down the field
•walks into end zone
•gives ball to his mom #HTTR pic.twitter.com/ODtbQ9qniK— Rudy Gersten (@DCBarno) August 10, 2024
