2024 NFL Draft: LSU QB Jayden Daniels Breakdown

We all know know about Jayden Daniels’ athleticism. He ran for 1,134 yards in 12 games last season, including a 2-game span against Alabama and Florida where he rushed for 397 yards. He is a threat to score from anywhere on the field, plain and simple:

However, he’s a far more refined passer than you’d initially expect given how dynamic of a runner he is.

I’m not just talking about the numbers Daniels put up during his Heisman-Trophy-winning 2023 season (A 40-4 TD-INT ratio in case you were wondering). I’m talking about his traits.

In the Pocket

In particular, his pocket presence stands out. Daniels is quiet and calm in the face of the pass rush and doesn’t flinch when the other team’s jersey color flashes. Just look at this throw for example:

In addition to the ability to remain calm with a pass rusher bearing down on him there, Daniels’ mechanics didn’t break down, and he made a pinpoint accurate throw as a result. That’s as high level as it gets when playing quarterback.

This wasn’t a one-time thing either. Below is another example. This time, Daniels looked right first, didn’t like his options, then came back and hit his man in stride on a deep in-breaker just before taking a hit:

At times, Daniels seems impervious to pressure. His calmness and willingness to hang in the pocket in the face of the pass rush is somewhat rare for a quarterback who has the athleticism to escape so easily.

Ball Placement

Daniels is also a very accurate passer, as you could see on those two firm throws above. However, he also consistently makes touch throws at both the intermediate and deep levels: