Listen up, Commanders fans, because ESPN’s Dan Graziano just dropped a brutal prediction for Jayden Daniels in the 2026 NFL season. After a rough 2025 sophomore year, Washington was hoping Daniels could bounce back to his brilliant rookie-season form, maybe even become an MVP candidate. But Graziano is calling for Daniels to struggle again in 2026, and the worst part? It’s apparently not even going to be his fault.
It’s Not About the QB’s Play
Graziano makes it crystal clear this isn’t a knock on Daniels himself. “Don’t be surprised if … quarterback Jayden Daniels struggles to regain his brilliant rookie-year form,” he writes, “This isn’t about Daniels himself. He’s an absolutely awesome player, and assuming he can get through the season healthy, I expect him to perform at a high level.” That’s the kicker, right? You’ve got an “awesome player” at QB, but the setup around him is so shaky that he’s still predicted to falter. Daniels battled an injury-riddled 2025, and the hope was a healthy 2026 would fix things, but Graziano points to four huge issues out of Daniels’ control that could doom the season.
A Stacked Deck Against Him
First up, the wide receiver room is a mess. Graziano calls it “thin and aging,” with Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs leading the charge. They should be good, sure, and rookie Antonio Williams could be a fun breakout, but behind them, you’ve got Luke McCaffrey, Treylon Burks, Dyami Brown, Jaylin Lane, and Jacoby Jones. That’s a shaky group that doesn’t exactly scream confidence. Then, you’ve got massive “question marks” at running back. Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Rachaad White, and Kaytron Allen aren’t exactly a reliable trio. And if that wasn’t bad enough, the offensive line is a huge concern for 2026, especially with Laremy Tunsil likely missing most, if not all, of the season. That’s a massive problem for any quarterback, let alone one trying to regain form. Finally, they’re trying to navigate all these issues with a new offensive coordinator, David Blough. While there might be some optimism there, his ability as a play-caller still has “plenty of uncertainty” around it.
It’s tough to ignore all these red flags for the Commanders’ offense. Graziano’s prediction for a struggling Daniels and a struggling offense in 2026, while not Daniels’ fault, would make for a massively disappointing third season. The stakes are high for Daniels to overcome this environment and prove he can still return to that brilliant rookie-year form. You gotta wonder if he can do it with that kind of setup.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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