ASHBURN, Va. — Organized team activities, or OTAs, kicked off Tuesday for the Washington Commanders. The buzz is still loud around quarterback Jayden Daniels. Head coach Dan Quinn talked about Daniels' performance during last week's rookie minicamp, and knows the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner is still doing his homework.
"Sometimes as a quarterback, it's not just what you're doing. It's making sure a formation is set, it's starting a motion, it's getting a correction. That's when you know you have full command of not just what your responsibilities are, but also what the others' are," Quinn said. "Not only knowing your responsibility, but also the others around you, that's when you really get to make an impact and multiply the people around you."
Last week, Daniels took the field in burgundy and gold for the first time during the minicamp, along with seven of the other eight Commanders draft picks, several rookie free agents and players on tryouts. The first of their three second-round selections, defensive tackle Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton, did not take part and was observed with a boot on his surgically repaired left foot.
RELATED: Commanders coach Dan Quinn says Jayden Daniels made his 'heart smile' during rookie mini camp
Running drills allowed him to throw passes to a couple of players drafted on Day 2 to give Daniels some help: tight end Ben Sinnott and receiver Luke McCaffrey, brother of the 49ers' Christian. But it wasn't the first chance for them to connect after getting together in recent weeks and months for informal workouts and training in California.
“Really enjoyed spending time with him, throwing, running routes for him,” said Sinnott, a second-rounder pick out of Kansas State. “He’s a super talented kid, a great dude and one person I really like just to be around and hopefully grow with.”
McCaffrey, also the son of three-time Super Bowl-winning receiver Ed, echoed that sentiment about Daniels on and off the field.
“He’s a stud,” said McCaffrey, a third-rounder out of Rice. “He’s one heck of a quarterback and he’s a lot of fun to play with from a personality standpoint, and so I’ve had a blast in just 24 hours being in D.C. with him.”
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