During a joint practice between the Washington Commanders and the New York Jets on Thursday, rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels impressed with his performance, drawing praise from Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner.
“I just told him, ‘You’re going to be real good.’ It was great to just be able to line up against him,” Gardner remarked after the practice, as reported by NBC4 Sports. He added, “As a corner, you want to go against a rookie quarterback. But he’s one of those guys. He’s developed.”
The Commanders, in a rebuilding phase, selected Daniels second overall in the April draft. The 23-year-old quarterback had a standout career at LSU, culminating in winning the Heisman Trophy in 2023.
Gardner, who was picked fourth overall by the Jets in 2022, has quickly made a name for himself as one of the league’s top cornerbacks. He has earned two first-team All-Pro selections and was named Defensive Rookie of the Year.
The practice session included some light-hearted banter, with Gardner noting that he and Daniels enjoyed some friendly trash talk.
In challenging conditions marked by heavy rain, Daniels completed seven of 15 pass attempts, as reported by Lynnell Willingham of 106.7 The Fan. He also showcased his skills with several highlight-reel plays.
“He’s an impressive kid. … I know our building thought very highly of him also,” Jets head coach Robert Saleh stated Thursday, indicating confidence in Daniels’ potential.
The Jets and Commanders are set to face each other on Saturday to kick off their preseason schedule.
