Gators and Tigers don’t get along on an SEC football field, but Chris Doering is now an SEC Network analyst, so he had to watch a lot of LSU this year – and, as some (including JP Finlay) wonder if the Commanders signing Marcus Mariota shows they’re leaning toward drafting Jayden Daniels, the Junkies got his take on what Daniels can bring to the table.
“I don't think there's a position that's benefited more from the transfer portal than quarterback in general, and Jayden Daniels was one of those guys where when he came over from Arizona State, it was less than awe-inspiring,” Doering said. “The beginning of his career at LSU was kind of just average, had some good and bad moments, and then all of a sudden about midway through 2022, he absolutely started lighting it up in his accuracy, throwing the football particularly on third down. Something clicked in him, whether it was being more comfortable with the plays that were being called or what, but he was able to add this passing accuracy along with great athleticism that everybody knew he had, and he became this next-level quarterback. He just makes you have to defend differently, and that leaves more one-on-one opportunities on the outside for receivers to make plays, and that's what he was able to take advantage of. There are very few quarterbacks that have the running ability that he does along with the understanding of the offense and the ability to throw the ball with the accuracy that he had for the last year and a half.”
Doering sort of comped Daniels to Lamar Jackson in terms of his legs forcing defenses to play him differently, thinking ‘you're almost better keeping him in the pocket than you are flushing him and getting pressure on him,’ but also, ‘I think he processes the field very well and knows where to go with the football.’
That said…how would Doering rate the idea of Daniels to the Commanders at No. 2?
“I love Drake Maye as well, and I think this is a really interesting conversation with those three guys, but I would say yes just because of the running ability and what he can add in terms of that matchup issue,” Doering said. “I think I have Drake Maye a little higher than Caleb Williams, Maye I think is my favorite coming out, but I would probably go 1-2 with Jayden Daniels and Caleb Williams three in that quarterback ranking.”
Take a listen to Doering’s entire breakdown above!