Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels will strap on a burgundy-and-gold helmet for the first time at Washington’s rookie minicamp Friday. The three-day event features limited on-field work as first-year players adapt to their new team.
The team and fans will zero in on Daniels after he throws his first pass at the Commanders’ training facility in Ashburn. Videos of his first time on the practice field will be posted on social media and shared thousands of times. The footage will appear on TV. Armchair analysts will pick apart the No. 2 pick’s throwing motion and body language.
The expectations surrounding Daniels — along with new coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters — bring a brighter spotlight to this year’s minicamp.
The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner will be joined by fellow draftees, including Illinois defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton, Rice wide receiver Luke McCaffrey, Kansas State tight end Ben Sinnott, Michigan cornerback Mike Sainristil and TCU guard Brandon Coleman. An array of undrafted rookies and tryout players will also take the field this weekend.
Rookie minicamp is an orientation for new players as their first major event at the team facility. The rookies will receive tablets stocked with game footage, plus playbooks to prepare them for their first NFL season.
“It is very intriguing,” Daniels said of the Commanders’ offensive coaching staff after the draft. “I’m excited [with] how they built the quarterback room and offensive side of the ball. They set it up for success. … I’m excited to learn from them.”
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The first-round quarterback has already started discussing his role in the offense with coaches. This weekend will let him build chemistry with his new teammates, like pass catchers Sinnott and McCaffrey.
Washington’s top draft picks aren’t the only ones looking to make a strong impression this weekend. The Commanders signed 11 undrafted free agents last month, including former Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman. The Commanders gave Hartman a $225,000 base salary guarantee and a $20,000 signing bonus last month.
Undrafted players like Hartman face an uphill battle to make a roster. It starts now. The three-day minicamp is the first opportunity for new players to make an impression.
The rookie minicamp is the first organized on-field practice for Quinn as Washington’s coach. He joined the franchise in February and promised to bring a new identity to an organization that lacked a spark in recent years.
“It’s more about the play style and the vision of how to feature players into that play style,” Quinn said at his introductory press conference. “One of the things that I love about coaching is finding unique traits that a player has and then how could we fit them into a system.”
After months of planning and film study, Quinn and the coaching staff will work with new players on the field for the first time to see what works.
“What’s great about [offensive coordinator] Kliff [Kingsbury] is he can really mold the offense around anyone,” Peters said in February. “He’s gonna build the offense around Jayden. … They’re already vibing, and it’s gonna be a really great marriage with him.”
Peters is rebuilding a roster on a team that went 4-13 in 2023. The Commanders laid the groundwork for a fresh start this offseason; the front office added 20 rookies and a slew of veteran free agents.
According to Over The Cap, Washington has the most roster turnover in the NFL, with just 57% of players from the 2023 squad still on the team.
Peters and Quinn have said they want to build a team with a physical identity. Establishing that culture starts in practice.
“When you watch it on TV and you turn the volume down, you just see how fast and physical and aggressive you are on both sides of the ball,” Peters said. “That type of style is what you’re looking for … people that love football who are going to give it all for us on the field.”
The Commanders are limited to an hour of on-field practice per day during rookie minicamp. Though Daniels’ first passes will attract the most attention from fans, the bulk of the weekend’s work takes place indoors. Rookies will spend time in the classroom with coaches, study the playbook and learn where to use the bathroom at Commanders Park.
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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