Daniels swayed Miller to choose Commanders: QB has 'MVP potential'
Newly signed Commanders pass-rusher Von Miller said quarterback Jayden Daniels was a key reason why he decided to sign with Washington.
"You can't leave Josh Allen and just go anywhere," Miller told the Washington Post's Nicki Jhabvala. "You can't leave your old girlfriend and just go with just anybody. Like, Josh Allen was MVP of the league last year. I feel like Jayden Daniels has MVP potential as well."
Miller signed a one-year, $6.1-million contract with the Commanders that has a maximum value of $10.5 million with incentives. The veteran edge rusher said he talked with other teams but having lunch in June with Daniels, head coach Dan Quinn, and general manager Adam Peters helped push him to choose the Commanders.
Daniels, 24, is heading into his sophomore season after leading the Commanders to the NFC Championship Game, the first time the franchise has made it past the divisional round since 1991. Washington went 12-5 during the regular season with the rookie signal-caller racking up 4,459 yards and 31 touchdowns.
Out of 32 qualifying quarterbacks in 2024, Daniels ranked sixth in EPA/play and eighth in completion percentage, according to Ben Baldwin's database.
"It was the best team with the best quarterback," Miller said of his decision to join Washington. "That's usually the math for me to be able to go and do what I do."
Miller, 36, recorded six sacks in 13 games with the Buffalo Bills last season. The former Super Bowl MVP hasn't recorded double-digit sacks since 2018, as he's battled injuries in recent years that have slowed down his production.
"One of my things this offseason was just to stay healthy," Miller said. "It's kind of weird not having a contract. You don't want to hit it too hard because you don't want to come in feeling unhealthy … so I had to take my foot off the gas a little bit. But these last three weeks, I've been hitting it pretty hard. So I'm feeling pretty good. I'm ready to go."
The three-time first-team All-Pro has 129 career sacks across 186 NFL regular-season games with the Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Rams, and Bills.