Hogs Haven
This article re-visits what I wrote about the players on the Commanders roster just prior to the start of the 2025 regular season.
To read that article in its original form, CLICK HERE.
Jayden Daniels
2024 Comment: I’m thrilled! I think Daniels is the real deal and that no other potential quarterback could have been a better fit for this team at this time. I’m looking forward to many years of leadership and great play from our new starting QB.
2025: There is literally no NFL quarterback that I would rather have than Jayden Daniels. We’ve all seen his greatest on-field attribute — poise under pressure — and heard about his greatest off-the-field attributes of hard work and relentless preparation. He’s about to show the league that, not only was 2024 not a fluke, but that he’s a better QB in 2025.
Week 12: Well, nothing here has gone to plan. In the few games that Jayden has been healthy, he hasn’t looked as sharp as he did a year ago. The recent film breakdown by Kurt Warner made it painfully clear that, midseason, Jayden was lacking the clear vision, immediate processing and decisiveness that marked his rookie year. The bigger story, however, has been the three injuries that have plagued his second season as a pro. I remain absolutely bullish on Jayden as the franchise quarterback, but there’s no denying that 2025 has felt like a cursed season.
Marcus Mariota
2024 Comment: Dating back to when he was drafted, I’ve never been a Mariota fan. Now he’ll be wearing the burgundy & gold, so I’ll spend the next week in deep meditation to prepare myself to root for him. If things go well, he’ll never take a snap for this franchise, which would make rooting for him much simpler.
2025: Marcus Mariota totally converted me. He’s a fantastic backup quarterback and was directly involved in helping achieve 2 of the Commanders’ 12 regular season wins in 2024. I am officially thrilled to have him back and publicly retract every doubt I ever expressed about him.
Week 12: I realize that the team has not enjoyed the same success with Mariota behind center this season when compared to 2024, but I don’t blame Mariota (much) for that. I still feel good about Washington’s chances every time he steps on the field. He is not Jayden Daniels; if he were, he wouldn’t be a backup on any team. I’m still pleased that MM is a Commander, and, barring a significant shakeup to the coaching staff this offseason, I’d like to see him back in ‘26.
Josh Johnson
I just find it hard to get too worked up about a guy who’s probably never gonna play a snap for the team in the regular season or post season, but I recognize that, with Mariota having struggled with Achilles tendinitis throughout training camp, Johnson could be one snap away from playing...
