The best-kept secret in Washington is that the generals want to see quarterback Jayden Daniels under center more in 2026. While head coach Dan Quinn hasn’t said it explicitly, his decision to move on from offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury has to do with wanting to see a shift in offensive philosophy.
When Quinn introduced new offensive coordinator David Braff this week, he said the same thing.
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“It’s going to be an aggressive, balanced offense, but probably more under center than it has been in the past,” Quinn said. “That also applies to the run and the pass to produce explosive plays. So we’re going to try to bring out every part of Jaden in a way that makes him unique.”
When Daniels was a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback at LSU, he primarily finished in shotgun formation. Kingsbury was an Air Raid disciple who ran most of his offense with the shotgun, so this was considered a natural fit. That was certainly the case in 2024, with Daniels becoming a legitimate MVP candidate and leading the Commanders to 12 wins and an appearance in the NFC Championship Game.
How much center has Daniels played in his first two seasons? Consider this statistic from Warren Sharp.
That’s a crazy number, and considering seven of the top ten players under center made the playoffs last season, the offensive shift makes sense. Ben Johnson took over the Bears and helped Caleb Williams take a huge leap forward in his second season. Williams and Daniels were in the same draft class. Additionally, Drake Maye, the No. 3 overall pick, led the Patriots to the Super Bowl in his second season. Meyer and the Patriots also rounded out the top 10.
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Playing more at center doesn’t guarantee offensive success for the general manager. Quinn and Braff wouldn’t have taken such a drastic step if they didn’t think Daniels was willing to do so. Washington knows Daniels will be more dangerous at center, which will open up the playbook further.
Here’s what Braff had to say about Daniels playing center more:
“I think there’s a level of communication underneath the center,” he said. “I think there are different ways to approach things, and I’m a big believer in his skill set, his fundamentals and those things that we absolutely loved about him when he got here. As we grow and develop, you know, I think a lot of teams that you see even deep into the playoffs, you know, that’s the foundation of what they do. I think that’s something that we want to implement with him and get him at that position.” “
Did you notice Braff mentioning the teams that made the playoffs? This is no accident. While Kingsbury’s offense is dangerous when everyone is healthy, that’s to be expected. But when Daniels plays like Superman in 2024, there will always be an answer for every defensive adjustment he faces.
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This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commander: It’s clear why they left Kingsbury