Jayden Daniels will become the best QB in NFC after Deebo Samuel’s trade, according to Emmanuel Acho

The Washington Commanders picked Jayden Daniels from LSU as the second overall in 2024 to join their ranks as the franchise quarterback.

Jayden Daniels will become the best QB in NFC after Deebo Samuel’s trade, according to Emmanuel Acho

Jayden Daniels, Deebo Samuel, Emmanuel Acho (Images via Marca.com/Forbes/Worldbeat News Network)

Jayden Daniels had an incredible rookie campaign in 2024, arguably one of the greatest in NFL history. He dominated the Offensive Rookie of the Year race and became just the third rookie quarterback to win multiple road playoff games.

Despite having limited offensive weapons, he carried the Washington Commanders to the NFC Championship. That won’t be the case in his second season. Over the weekend, the Commanders made a bold move, acquiring former All-Pro wide receiver Deebo Samuel from the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a fifth-round pick.

While some believe Samuel is past his prime, his fit in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense suggests otherwise. A change of scenery has revived struggling players in the past. Matthew Stafford didn’t win a Super Bowl with the Lions, but he cruised to one with the Rams. The examples are plentiful.

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FS1 analyst Emmanuel Acho is a firm believer in the impact Samuel will have on Daniels. He went as far as to claim that this move would make him the best quarterback in the NFC.

Deebo Samuel will make Jayden Daniels the best QB in the NFC. Because Jayden Daniels now has what all the other NFC QBs have—a ‘down-off’ guy. Daniels didn’t have someone last year he could lean on to take a play off. Now, with Samuel, he has a reliable option—whether it’s a tunnel screen, a quick pitch, or a designed backfield play.

Emmanuel Acho said on The Facility

The league’s quarterback talent is undoubtedly stacked in the AFC, with Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, and Josh Allen leading the way. But when it comes to the NFC, the competition isn’t as clear-cut according to Emmanuel Acho.

How does the NFC look in the quarterback section?

Although it is easy to shrug off NFC, they do possess some good and known names as well. In addition to Daniels, the NFC East has Dak Prescott and Jalen Hurts. Prescott, 31, is inching closer to past his prime with injury concerns and a disappointing 2024.

Dallas Cowboys' Dak Prescott
Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott (Image via Reuters)

Hurts, on the other hand, has taken his team to two Super Bowl games in three years. He is one of the first in recent times to make a Super Bowl after losing the first one. His determination to play even after a knee injury and shine amidst the same places him in dangerous territory.

Few quarterbacks still have to prove their worth. Brock Purdy‘s rise from the last pick to a starting quarterback came into question last year. Purdy was a shell of the player from his previous years after San Francisco lost key players to injury.

Similarly, Jordan Love has also struggled with inconsistency. Sam Darnold’s late-season collapse hurt his stock, and while Matthew Stafford remains solid, his best years are behind him. Despite the same, the Rams are a stronger opponent when Stafford is at the helm.

Baker Mayfield and Jared Goff could be considered as Daniels’ closest competition. Mayfield’s revival under Liam Coen was spectacular as he shone quite brightly. Mayfield had 4500 passing yards, ranked 3rd in the league, with 41 touchdowns to his name.

Meanwhile, Jared Goff had 4629 passing yards with 37 touchdowns. However, the key differentiator could be Jayden Daniels’ dual-threat ability that none of the top names in the NFC offer right now.

Related: Skip Bayless warns Jerry Jones that Washington, with Deebo Samuel’s trade, is pulling off a Philadelphia on the Cowboys