JJ Watt crowns Jayden Daniels as his MVP despite Lamar Jackson, Sam Darnold having stellar seasons so far
Jayden Daniels' impact for Washington Commanders makes him JJ Watt's MVP even though Lamar Jackson and Sam Darnold are favorites.
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Washington Commanders turnaround makes Jayden Daniels the MVP as per JJ Watt (Image via Imago/X)
With seven weeks of the 2024-25 NFL season in, discussions have started to come up about possible MVP candidates. The usual suspects so far have been Lamar Jackson, Jared Goff, and Sam Darnold. Their stellar plays for their respective teams have seen their names being mentioned too often. But for legend JJ Watt, rookie Jayden Daniels stands out.
The former defensive player of the year was speaking on the Pat McAfee Show earlier. When discussing what it takes to be an MVP, they listed out how the player has impacted his team. Not only with their work on the field but also how they galvanize their teammates to play better.
With the way the Washington Commanders have played as a team so far, it has surprised many. Bringing in Dan Quinn as head coach has helped elevate the play of many. But JJ Watt believes it was the introduction of Jayden Daniels that has had the most important impact.
He continues to elevate this team to where they go on and possibly win this division, possibly win some playoff games. I mean, that would be the definition of a most valuable player. He was drafted, he came in, and he turned an entire organization around in one year. That’s the most valuable player.
JJ Watt on Jayden Daniels
"[Jayden Daniels is] the definition of a Most Valuable Player."@JJWatt believes a player who turns "an entire organization around" should be MVP ? @PatMcAfeeShow pic.twitter.com/0WT3Kx9nsF
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) October 23, 2024
JJ Watt knows that generally, the league MVP award goes to those who have proven it over time. But he disagrees with it as the rookie has proved to him that his impact has been valuable to the turnaround in the fortunes of his team.
Jayden Daniels stacked up against Lamar Jackson, Sam Darnold
JJ Watt knows the NFL and award voters do not prefer to give the MVP award to a rookie. But if Jayden Daniels continues to play at this rate, it might be difficult to leave him out of the race. That race currently has Lamar Jackson, Sam Darnold, and Jared Goff for a reason.
In the case of the Baltimore Ravens, had Lamar Jackson not been there, their current situation could have been starkly different. Their defensive struggles are glaring, and their receivers have not particularly struck fear among opponents. That indicates how important his playmaking is to them.
On the other hand, Sam Darnold has helped the Minnesota Vikings to a blistering start, even though he was only meant to back JJ McCarthy up. Jared Goff and the Lions are flying and are looking like the best team. But, the presence of Derrick Henry, the Vikings’ defense, and the Lions as a team have their own advantages.
That is why JJ Watt believes the impact of Jayden Daniels on the Washington Commanders is different. Without his stellar plays, he believes the team did not have what it takes to sit with a 5-2 record heading into Week 8.
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Joseph Varghese
(2424 Articles Published)