Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury has long been known for developing quarterbacks and spotting talent before it becomes obvious to the rest of the football world. When asked what he looks for in a signal caller, Kingsbury pointed to Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes and Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels as two examples of players who displayed special traits early on.
âI mean, itâs a bunch of stuff. I think those are two guys that anybody couldâve said, âHey, theyâre going to be really good,” Kingsbury said. âIt wasnât Patrick when you watch his high school film was like unique to anything Iâve ever seen. He just had an incredible vision of the field. It didnât look like a guy whoâd been brought up playing the position in all the different camps and quarterback tutors, but he just, he led, and he moved the football.â
For Kingsbury, Mahomesâ skillset was never just about arm strength or flashy plays; it was the ability to see the entire field and lead in a way that others could not. That blend of raw instinct and leadership set him apart from peers who had more traditional quarterback coaching backgrounds.
Danielsâ Poise and Progression
Turning to Daniels, Kingsbury sees a different but equally rare set of tools that stand out in the NFL. Daniels, the Commandersâ young quarterback, impressed Kingsbury not only with his athletic ability but with the way he advanced beyond what most college passers could accomplish.
âWith Jayden, just watching him in college, his ability to progress was very unique to a lot of college kids,â Kingsbury explained. âYou can set it up in college, a lot of times you get them to their first read and theyâll cut it loose. But his ability with all his natural running ability to stay in the pocket, progress through, the touch pass is the accuracy. It was just unique to most of the players that Iâve ever scouted.â
Kingsburyâs comments highlight how Daniels is not just a gifted runner but a quarterback who can remain calm in the pocket, go through multiple reads, and deliver with precision. That combination of athleticism and patience has convinced Kingsbury that Danielsâ ceiling goes far beyond the label of a dual-threat quarterback.
The Shared Quality of Uniqueness
What connects Mahomes and Daniels in Kingsburyâs eyes is not a single measurable trait but rather a collection of unique qualities that cannot be easily taught. For Mahomes, it was vision and leadership; for Daniels, it is poise and progression. Both players showed something outside the norm, the kind of traits that coaches cannot drill into a player, but can recognize when they see it.
As the Commanders continue to build around Daniels, Kingsburyâs perspective provides insight into why Washington believes they have their quarterback of the future. Just as Mahomes redefined what the position could look like in Kansas City, Daniels has the chance to carve his own path in Washington with Kingsbury guiding him along the way.
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