Few viewpoints are as respected as those of seasoned NFL draft expert Todd McShay when it comes to assessing talent before to the draft.

For this reason, when McShay made a small jab at rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and his recent play on an edition of “The Ryen Russillo Podcast” on November 4 during a discussion on potential NFC contenders, Washington Commanders supporters might want to take it under advisement.

With a 7-2 start, Washington is leading the NFC East Division, which is the team’s best start to a season since 1996.

“You know, Jayden Daniels has come back to earth a little bit, but is still dynamite,” McShay said. “But (Washington) is a good football team. If I’m crystal balling it, I think San Fran has a good chance to be better at the end of the year. Minnesota scares me. I think they’re a damn good football team.”

After 17 years with the network, McShay was let go by ESPN in June 2023 as part of significant, corporate-wide layoffs. He is making a comeback to the world of coverage with a new podcast on The Ringer, the home of Russillo’s podcast, where he hosts “The McShay Show,” a podcast about college football and the NFL draft.

Before the 2024 draft, when Daniels was selected by the Commanders with the second overall pick, McShay was spot on in his assessment of him. According to McShay’s assessment, Daniels was comparable to Caleb Williams, the quarterback for USC, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner, and the Chicago Bears’ first overall choice.

“I think that in this year’s quarterback class, Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels are 1a and 1b. and evaluators I’ve talked to from several teams concur,” McShay posted on his official X account on March 5.

A Closer Look at Daniels’ Recent Performance

It’s worthwhile to investigate whether McShay is correct and whether Daniels is indeed experiencing symptoms of hitting a “rookie wall” halfway through the season.

The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner has virtually played eight games, going 163-for-228 passing (71.5 percent) for 1,945 yards, nine touchdowns, and two interceptions. Daniels only played one series, in a victory over the Carolina Panthers in Week 7. He’s also rushed for 459 yards and 4 touchdowns while averaging 5.5 yards per carry.

If you’re looking for an area of his game where things have fallen off for Daniels, it might be in running the ball. While Daniels has 4 rushing touchdown on the season, he hasn’t run for a score since a Week 4 win over the Arizona Cardinals.

Daniels was also hurt running the ball on the first play from scrimmage against the Panthers, when he landed awkwardly after a 47-yard run.

Daniels might be the NFL’s first rookie MVP since 1957.

A victory would make Daniels the first rookie MVP since Jim Brown of the Cleveland Browns in 1957, and his play has solidified his place in the discussion for NFL Most Valuable Player.

“I have been waiting for someone to convince me otherwise (about MVP),” Domonique Foxworth, an ESPN commentator, stated on October 30. “Normally, you shield young quarterbacks. Additionally, rookie quarterbacks who have successful seasons are those who don’t have a lot of demands placed on them. They’re asking Daniels for everything.