NFL teams had big request for LSU QB Jayden Daniels

It appears teams that met with Jayden Daniels ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft had one specific request for the LSU Tigers quarterback. 

Bryan DeArdo of CBS Sports revealed on Tuesday night that NFL teams told Daniels they want him "to be smarter about the hits that" he takes at the highest level.

"They know I'm very competitive," Daniels explained. "You want to think that you can beat that guy and get that extra five yards, or maybe if you beat him you go down the sideline for 60. When to get down, when to not. There's a balance."

While some coaches previously voiced concerns about how Daniels will hold up as an NFL quarterback because "he is narrow," such takes didn't prevent others from rating him as the best signal-caller in this year's class over Caleb Williams of the USC Trojans. 

Those who worry about Daniels' health may not love that he told DeArdo he wants to go down as the greatest running quarterback in NFL history, but Daniels also insisted during that chat that his greatest strength as an overall player isn't his ability to make plays with his legs. 

"I would say my football IQ," Daniels said. "I pride myself on being a smart football player. Being able to eliminate what the defense isn't doing. I kind of have two or three things in my head pre-snap. ... Being able to check into runs and check protections based on leverage and stuff like that."

As recently as Wednesday morning, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported that Daniels is "expected" to go to the Washington Commanders via the second overall pick of the draft on Thursday night. 

Around that same time, DraftKings Sportsbook listed Daniels as the betting favorite at -475 odds to be the second choice of the player-selection process.

"A competitor, a leader," Daniels said about what he'll be for Washington or any other NFL club. "Somebody that loves to have fun playing football; they're going to see that when I'm out there playing. Somebody that has a passion for the game, that is going to work to win football games. That's the biggest thing. Winning matters, so however I can help the team win, I'm going to do it."

Daniels will need to remember this fall that sliding and avoiding punishment is the best thing he can do for his coaching staff in certain situations.