We are excited about our draft coverage here at FFSN this year, as we are adding something new to the fold. Between now and the NFL Draft, I will be writing individual player profiles on many of this year’s top prospects. Today, we continue the series with LSU QB Jayden Daniels.

Each of these breakdowns will include a brief background on the player, an in-depth scouting report, and a projection as to where he is likely to be selected in the NFL Draft. All of these articles can be found on our main FFSN NFL feed. Be sure to share these breakdowns with your fellow draft buddies on social media!

Bio and Profile

Height: 6’4″
Weight: 210 lbs

Daniels is an experienced quarterback who began his career at Arizona State, starting 29 games for the Sun Devils. After an impressive freshman campaign in 2019, Daniels was on the rise and projected to be a future top-five selection in the NFL Draft. Once the turnover numbers began to rise, Daniels took a back seat to media attention and flew under the radar for nearly two years. Following the 2021 season, Daniels made the bold decision to leave Arizona State and head to LSU. After an incredible 2023 season that included 40 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions, he was awarded with the Heisman Trophy and became the spotlight of draft pundits once again. He now heads into the draft with positive momentum that only seems to be growing in league circles.

Scouting Report

Daniels caught my attention during the early portion of his time at Arizona State, and I fully expected him to develop into an early first-round prospect. However, I did not expect his collegiate career to become what it became. After struggling to develop at Arizona State, Daniels transferred to LSU for his final two years, taking his game to new heights and walking away with the Heisman Trophy this past season. Daniels has always had a strong arm and excellent mobility, but what he really improved on during his time at LSU was his accuracy. His 72.2% completion percentage in 2023 speaks volumes to his progression as a decision-maker.

While he still struggles to get off his first read at times, he has learned not to force passes into traffic unnecessarily. I see a lot of Justin Fields in him, but don’t take that as a negative. Many of Fields’ struggles have been due to things he cannot control. Fit is such an important factor, and for Jayden Daniels’ sake, I hope he lands in a better spot than Fields landed. We may not see everything Daniels is capable of doing in Year 1, but even in his rookie season, he should most definitely be mature enough to start for the team that drafts him.

Draft Projection

While it may be a long shot for Daniels to go number one overall, I would not rule it out entirely. There seems to be less attitude baggage that comes with Daniels than what comes with Caleb Williams. Daniels is currently my highest-rated quarterback just above Williams, as his progression in 2023 sold me on his ability to be an NFL-level passer from inside the pocket. I would be quite surprised if Daniels is still on the board when we get to Pick 3.