NFL insider sees hints of Patrick Mahomes in Commanders' rookie QB

Former Carolina Panthers wide receiver turned sports commentator Steve Smith couldn’t help but draw similarities between Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Daniels and Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes.

Smith broke down the Washington Commanders' 30-24 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday on his show, "89-Steve Smith Sr." In a video uploaded on Tuesday, he focused on a matchup between Michael Penix Jr. and Daniels.

“There’s some traits of Patrick Mahomes in Jayden Daniels, in terms of there is a vibe around him, just a feeling or you’re around them, and they just bring out this essence of ‘Oh, we’re going to win,’" Smith said. "There’s no vibe to them that they will not succeed.”

Patrick Mahomes and Jayden Daniels uplift their teams upon arrival

Patrick Mahomes was drafted No. 10 by the Chiefs in 2017 and later became a regular starter in the 2018 season. His arrival changed the fortunes of the Chiefs, as they became a formidable force in the AFC, taking over from the New England Patriots.

While the Chiefs lost to the New England Patriots 37-31 in overtime in the AFC championship game on Jan. 20, 2019, Mahomes was phenomenal, with over 5,000 passing yards and 50 TDs in the regular season.

The Commanders’ rookie QB, Jayden Daniels, is having an outstanding debut season. He has passed for 3,530 yards with a completion percentage of 69.4% and 25 TDs. He is tied for fourth on the QB rating list, behind Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow and Josh Allen.

Daniels is now on the verge of securing the Rookie Player of the Year award, as his closest rival, Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, is ranked 30th on the list.

Daniels’ arrival has significantly changed the fortunes of the Commanders, who had been struggling for a long time. Many credit Daniels as the core reason for this remarkable turnaround, going 11-5 this season after finishing 4-13 last season.

Given that both Mahomes and Daniels have had transformative early years, Steve Smith Sr. drew the comparison.

Jayden Daniels to become Patrick Mahomes 2.0

The Commanders are heading toward the postseason with an 11-5 record — their best since 2020. Their most notable performance came in Week 16 when they defeated the NFC-topping Eagles 36-33 on Dec. 22.

This marks the most regular-season wins for the Commanders since 1991, when they won the Super Bowl. The only other time they had 11 or more regular-season wins was in 1987, another Super Bowl-winning year. Thus, optimism is high within the Commanders’ camp, though some fans remain cautious.

While many fans see Patrick Mahomes 2.0 in Jayden Daniels, others argue it might be too early to draw such comparisons. Some even worry Daniels might follow the path of Robert Griffin III, who won NFL Rookie of the Year in 2012 with the Redskins (now Commanders) but failed to sustain his success.