Legendary former NFL defensive end J.J. Watt has seen enough. He believes Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels is a legit MVP candidate.
“People don’t want to give a rookie MVP,” Watt said this week on the “Pat McAfee Show.”
“I think they think the Rookie of the Year award, that’s his recognition, his MVP, no matter how good he plays. You kind of have to prove it over time to earn an MVP award, which I 100% and completely disagree with. Who knows how this is going to play out over the course of the rest of the year? We’re only seven weeks in. But if he continues to play at a rate that nobody in the history of the league has ever done, and 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.”
Watt provided more information for his argument.
Jayden Daniels is the only QB in NFL History with:
– 75% Completion Percentage
– 200 Pass Yards per Game
– 50 Rush Yards per Gamein any 7-game span.
And he has the Commanders in 1st Place at 5-2.
Rookie or not, that is MVP worthy at the moment.
Plenty more ball to play… https://t.co/ltI1KmJETI
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) October 23, 2024
Watt makes some compelling arguments. The MVP isn’t meant to be awarded to the player with the best stats but the player who is most valuable to their team. Yes, there is a long way to go, but through seven weeks, what player has transformed a franchise like Daniels has done with the Commanders?
Yes, he’s had plenty of help, but Washington is a legit playoff contender because of Daniels. Without Daniels? Not so much.
Daniels injured his rib in last Sunday’s win over the Panthers and did not return. His mother later said he was fine, but head coach Dan Quinn said Daniels was “week to week” and he was “hopeful” he could play on Sunday vs. the Chicago Bears.
