Report: GM Peters Told Commanders Owners Jayden Daniels Could Change Team 'Forever' | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters believes a new era could begin when quarterback Jayden Daniels takes the field this fall.

Before selecting the former LSU signal-caller with the No. 2 pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, Peters told Commanders ownership that the team was taking a player who could "change this franchise forever," ESPN's John Keim reported.

Peters then announced Daniels' name, at which point the room "erupted with cheers," Keim wrote.

Pre-draft reports indicated the Commanders were choosing between Daniels and UNC's Drake Maye, ultimately deciding on the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner as the franchise's next quarterback.

Despite these reports, ESPN's Adam Schefter said after the draft that Maye wasn't a top choice for the Commanders, who were instead considering choosing between Daniels and Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy.

According to Peters, however, the team had been locked in on Daniels "for a while."

"It would have taken a lot for it to not be Jayden," Daniels said, per Keim. "The whole building I would say was unanimous on that one. It's easy to see why."

According to Keim, Commanders leadership began considering drafting Daniels after watching film of his performance in the Tigers' Sept. 3 loss to Florida State.

"Daniels threw for 346 yards and ran for 64 more, but one Commanders source said, in addition to his polish and arm talent, they liked how he responded after suffering multiple big hits in the game," Keim wrote.

The Commanders are hoping Daniels' ability to withstand hits means he can succeed as the long-term quarterback they haven't had since Kirk Cousins made 48 straight starts for Washington between 2015 and 2017.

Since then, the franchise has started 14 quarterbacks in six seasons. Among them, only Sam Howell, who made 17 starts in 2023, played a full season.

The Commanders hoped they had found that franchise quarterback last season in Howell. Former head coach Ron Rivera said last August that he felt the team had finally "got a guy" at quarterback after drafting Howell in the fifth round of the 202 draft, per Keim.

Washington then stumbled to a 4-13 record as Howell matched his touchdown total with an NFL-high 21 interceptions.

After trading Howell to the Seattle Seahawks this offseason, the Commanders are now ready to try again with Daniels.

This time, Washington's front office will hope the team finally has found a starting quarterback who can become the first since Cousins to play multiple full seasons for the franchise.