What Does Game Film Reveal About Jayden Daniels?

LSU quarterback (QB) Jayden Daniels showed talent on his 2022 game film, and he showed inconsistencies.

Daniels additionally showed he is the real deal running the football (2022: 186 carries for 885 yards).

However, this LSU field general looked different on game film as the season progressed, and not in a good way.

Daniels didn’t look nearly as sure of himself as I have seen in previous game film studies.

Can he rebound?

Held the ball too long

This was the big one.

It’s also part of the reason Daniels ran so much when the pocket was breaking down.

It’s also explains why he threw so many short passes, and why his sack total skyrocketed (2022: sacked 43 times) compared to previous seasons, before transferring from ASU (2021: sacked 26 times).

Other things that break down when QBs hold the ball too long…

Locking in with receivers for too long.

Timing is off.

Downfield ball placement is off.

All three of those things were all over Daniels’ game film in 2022.

What does Daniels do well?

Circling back to the ground game – – Daniels can run with the best of them.

This is his top attribute.

Daniels is a tough runner who can pick up big chunks of yardage on a regular basis running the ball – – 10 – – 20 – – with a long of 37 yards last season.

NFL trajectory

At this point, Daniels looks like a mid-round pick in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft.

His game film matches the profile of developing into a solid back-up No. 2 QB who can fill in if needed.

The thing I liked also was Daniels did a fairly good job of protecting the football when he threw it. In these five games, defenders got their hands on only nine passes, which is the best result so far in this upcoming draft class.

Ball protection or “ball security,” is a great characteristic to have for a back-up QB. In other words, they don’t come in and lose the game by throwing a bunch of wild and crazy passes.

Daniels does a pretty good job of putting the ball where only his receivers have a shot at catching it.

The name “Tyrod Taylor” went through my mind watching these latest five games. That’s the comp for Daniels. Taylor was a sixth-round pick back in 2011 and he’s now on his sixth NFL team (NYG) as a serviceable back-up.

I can see Daniels having a similar type of career at the next level.

For him to be anything more, he will need to consistently release the ball a lot quicker, and he will have to stop locking in with receivers.

#5 Jayden Daniels 6-foot-3, 200 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Spring 2023 Grade: Fourth-Round (I would select him)

Projected by 0.0% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of May 11, 2023 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

Previous articles:

NFL Draft Prospect: Jayden Daniels, QB, Arizona State | 100 yards of football podcast

Former NFL Scout Would Take Jayden Daniels Over Trey Lance

2022 game film reviewed: Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi State, and Texas A&M (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2022 stats: 266/388 (68.6%), 2913 yards, 17 TD, 3 INT, 43 sacks, long-54

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Lean athletic frame dual threat with a good arm who manages the short to intermediate game. Void of big throwing plays in this block of game film, but proved to be efficient. Smooth looking setting in the pocket with good ball handling skills and mobility. Can avoid some pass rushers, move around and extend. Tough as nails. Poised. Will stare down the barrel of the pass rush and complete passes. Inconsistent going through his progressions. Looks like he is late releasing on a lot of throws. Upper tier ball carrier when he takes off running with good playing speed. Not afraid of contact. Runs like the wind.

What to watch for during the 2023 college football season:

1. Consistently going through progressions?

2. Holding the ball too long before throwing?

3. Does he look sure of himself?

4. Does he stay healthy running as much as he does?

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated Lions, Jets, and 49ers, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.