Jayden Daniels (QB) – LSU / Senior (5th year)
6’3”, 185 Lbs. (Unofficial) [listed as 210 lbs. on the LSU site]
2023 Stats: 12 games, 236 completions, 327 attempts, 72.2 completion percentage, 3812 passing yards, 11.7 yards per attempt, 40 passing TDs, 4 INTs, 208.0 Rate. 135 rushing attempts, 1134 rushing yards, 10 TDs.
{Reference: https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/jayden-daniels-1.html}
Awards: 2023 Heisman Trophy, 2023 AP Player of the Year, 2023 Consensus All-America, 2023 Davey O’Brien Trophy, 2023 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm, 2023 SEC Offensive Player of the Year, 2023 Walter Camp Player of the Year.
Measurables (Combine -did not attend):
| Hand | Arm | Wing |
| *** | *** | *** |
| 40-Dash | 10-Split | Vertical | Broad | 3-Cone | 20-Shuttle | Bench |
| *** | *** | *** | *** | *** | *** | *** |
RAS: (Available post-combine/pro day)
Games Watched: 2023 @ Alabama; 2023 vs. Georgia State; 2022 @ Florida; 2022 vs Alabama; 2021 @ UCLA; 2021 @ Utah
PRO’S
Jayden Daniels does not buckle under pressure, buys himself time when the pocket collapses, and has excellent accuracy to all levels while on the run (and of course from within the pocket). Quick processor, excellent vision to all levels, very quick release and is deadly in a rhythm offense. Drop extra players into coverage? Daniels will cook you with his legs as he ran for 1134 yards and 10 TDs in ’23. Nice pocket awareness and presence and makes big plays with his legs when the pocket collapses. He’s just “dangerous,” which is the first word that comes to mind if I had to describe him in one word (followed by “electric”), and he can legit beat you with his arm and legs. Very exciting and fun QB to watch, and one that his teammates you can tell really like to play with.
CON’S
Not the strongest arm for a QB, but can still make all throws to all levels of the field — aka his arm is strong enough. His weight is a concern — I see him listed as high as 210 lbs in many places, but I think those sites are taking his weight strictly from LSU which has him listed at 210, but the site I referenced in the beginning of this write up lists him at 185 which, based on my eye test, I believe is probably more accurate. I’m not that concerned about it (if it is 185 lbs), but the NFL can be unforgiving and being able to absorb body shots is obviously important. That being said, the wiry types are often tougher than they appear and Daniels was able to take shots in college (too many, in my opinion) and didn’t miss many, if any games. Release needs more consistency, but that should be correctable in the NFL. Regardless of his weight, I like his height of 6’3″ (we want our QBs to clearly see over our offensive linemen).
OVERALL
The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner, Daniels has come a long way since being a 3-year starter at Arizona State (’19 – ’21) with one of those being a shortened Covid season. With his increase in production at LSU, especially in his ’23 Heisman season, Daniels’ improvement matched the improved cast around him and he seriously leveled himself up against superior SEC competition. Analysts often and almost instinctively see a red flag when they see a 5-year starter who leveled-up against NCAA competition at a more advanced age, and I often do as well. However, I don’t really have that concern with Daniels. I think his path of starting his NCAA career at a respectable but not top-level program at Arizona State with a Covid year sandwiched in explains quite a bit as to why we didn’t see big time production until his final 2-years at LSU (especially in ’23), as opposed to being a college veteran taking advantage of teens.
Williams and Maye are my top tier QB prospects in this excellent QB draft, but if my team is picking in the top 10 and needs a QB, I’d be very happy and super excited with landing Daniels. Daniels is at the next level below Williams and Maye, in my opinion, but he is a worthy top-of-the-1st-round QB pick. I see him succeeding in the NFL and his fan base will love him.
Completed by: Joe Knows (@JoeJ_Clark), 01/05/24
