Getting selected No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft was the easy part for Jayden Daniels. The quarterback was thoroughly deserving of being the guy tasked with spearheading the Washington Commanders into an exciting new era. But his college achievements mean nothing as he gets set to embark on what will hopefully become a successful career at the next level.

Daniels will have a bigger bullseye on his back than most. Being drafted so high coupled with his Heisman Trophy-winning campaign at LSU in 2023 dictates as much. He’ll need support, but the signal-caller is walking into a tremendous environment if Washington’s much-maligned offensive line lives up to their end of the bargain.

Many in the national media questioned whether Daniels wanted to play for the Commanders and if the dual-threat weapon was going to be fully committed to the cause. That seems to be a thing of the past, with a recent revelation from John Keim of ESPN officially drawing a line under this tiresome theory with no substance attached.

The beat writer revealed that once Daniels had been formally introduced to the Commanders’ fanbase and the media in attendance for hs introductory presser, he went immediately to work – literally. On the plane ride home, to be more precise.

“During his private plane ride home after his news conference in Washington, [Jayden] Daniels, surrounded by family and friends, spent an hour of the trip pretending to stand at the line of scrimmage, calling out checks or plays that he already knew from the Commanders’ playbook. At his introductory news conference, Daniels said he felt “no pressure” to change Washington’s decades-long history of struggles at quarterback, but he knows the expectations. Daniels said he does not take for granted the responsibility of leading a struggling franchise back to prominence. He also does not assume he will be just given the starting job to open the season — though he says he was brought to Washington “for a reason.”

This might not sound like much, but it’s a fine example of what sort of player and leader the Commanders are getting in Daniels. He’s hungry, is not going to be complacent, and will go above and beyond the call of duty to help Washington return to its rightful place among the contenders.

Daniels wants to hit the ground running. He knows the magnitude of the challenges that lie ahead. He’s got the physical gifts, but that will count for nothing if the first-round pick doesn’t put in the work.

The Commanders made a substantial investment in Daniels. They knew he was their man from some way out. Covering every base and going through the process thoroughly led to rumors and hearsay, but it wasn’t ever going to put off Adam Peters in his quest to solve Washington’s biggest ongoing riddle.

This sort of revelation might go unnoticed in the grand scheme of things, but his teammates should be taking note. He is a player who’s going to be meticulous in his preparations and will demand nothing but the highest standards. Simply put, Daniels is the sort of franchise-caliber presence under center they can finally get behind.

It’s been a long time since anyone associated with the Commanders could say that.