NFL insider 'not buying' that Jayden Daniels, Marcus Mariota competing for starting QB job in Washington

The main focus at training camp for the Washington Commanders is the development of reigning No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels.

However, there’s another former No. 2 overall pick complicating things, as Marcus Mariota was brought to town. The quarterback, who has spent time with the Tennessee Titans, Las Vegas Raiders, Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles, is looking for a home, and landed in Washington this offseason.

Could Mariota start Week 1 for the Commanders, as they let Daniels adjust to the rigors of the NFL? Not so fast says ESPN’s Dan Graziano, as he examined every potential quarterback battle with training camp beginning. He’s not buying that narrative.

“I’m not buying the idea that it’s a competition in Washington between second overall pick Jayden Daniels and former No. 2 overall pick Marcus Mariota, and neither does anyone else I talk to about this,” Graziano wrote. “I think Daniels starts Week 1 as long as everyone’s healthy. If there’s a question in Washington, it’s about the offensive line and his protection.”

Graziano’s theory makes more sense than Mariota actually starting for the Commanders. Daniels showed he’s more than capable during his time at LSU, and the world knows what Mariota is as a quarterback. While he’ll be a serviceable backup, the Commanders might as well roll with Daniels from the beginning.

Will he be as successful in the NFL as he was with LSU? That remains to be seen, but Jayden Daniels is looking to usher in a new era with the Commanders. Times are changing in Washington, and their quarterback is the face of that change.

Commanders HC Dan Quinn: We’ll know when Jayden Daniels is ready to start

Alas, if you’re waiting for the Commanders to name Jayden Daniels as their starting quarterback, it may be a moment. Or an entire training camp.

Washington veterans joined the rookies at training camp last week. New Commanders coach Dan Quinn acknowledged the obvious — Daniels, the No. 2 pick of the NFL Draft and the Heisman winner will be their guy. But he has no idea when that will be. 

“It’s not a secret, but it is a journey and a process,” Quinn told reporters in his opening media availability. “So, as we’re going, when he’s ready, we’ll know, and when he’s ready, he’ll also know.”

Continuing, Quinn said competition will dictate how the Commanders divide up the QB reps in practice, then in preseason games. Washington opens its preseason schedule on Aug. 10 against the Jets. 

“As far as the reps go, obviously with (Daniels) and Marcus and moving around, there’ll be certain days that feature more of another,” Quinn said. “But I’m glad that you brought it up. It’s certainly not a secret. It’s a journey and a process.

“Through practices, through scrimmages and preseason games all the way down, that’s where the journey will take us. And then — not trying to hold back the info, but when we know, we’ll say it.”

So the Commanders aren’t keeping secrets in regards to Daniels. It’s a matter of when they make it official.

On3’s Suzanne Haliburton contributed to this article.