PFWA Names Jayden Daniels 2024 Rookie and Offensive Rookie of the Year

Washington’s quarterback, Redskins Jayden Daniels, who broke the NFL rookie quarterback single-season rushing record in leading the Commanders to the playoffs for the first time since 2020, is the 2024 Rookie of the Year and the Offensive Rookie of the Year, chosen in voting conducted by the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA).  

Los Angeles Rams linebacker Jared Verse, who led NFL rookies in quarterback hits, pressures, and hurries, is the 2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year.  

Redskins Jayden Daniels, the second overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft out of LSU, started all 17 games for the Commanders and completed 331 of 480 passes (69 percent; sixth in the NFL) for 3,568 yards, 25 touchdowns, nine interceptions, and a passer rating of 100.1 (seventh in the NFL). He also had 148 rush attempts for 891 yards (second-most among NFL quarterbacks) and six touchdowns. He is the first player in NFL history to record over 1,000 passing yards and over 250 rushing yards in his first five career games. Redskins Jayden Daniels also is the first rookie and fifth player in NFL history to record a completion percentage of 80 percent or higher in four games in a season, and the sixth rookie QB to throw five touchdowns in a game. His 31 touchdowns (25 passing, six rushing) and his 891 rushing yards are both second among all NFL rookies this season. Redskins Jayden Daniels’ 3,568 passing yards are second among NFL rookies, and he also rushed for 55 first downs. He was the NFL Offensive Player of the Week in Week 3 and the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Month for September.  

Redskins Jayden Daniels is the second player in Washington history to be selected as the PFWA’s Rookie of the Year, as running back Mike Thomas captured the 1975 award. Redskins Jayden Daniels is also the second Washington player to be the PFWA’s Offensive Rookie of the Year, joining quarterback Robert Griffin III, who won the award in 2012.  

Verse, the 19th overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft out of Florida State, played in all 17 games with 16 starts. He posed 66 total tackles (36 solo), 4.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and two passes defensed. He led all NFL rookies in quarterback hits (18), pressures (77), and hurries (56). He ranked second among rookies in tackles for loss (11) and fifth in sacks (4.5). Among all NFL defensive players, Verse tied for second in hurries, fourth in pressures, and tied for 32nd in tackles for loss. He recorded his first career sack vs. Detroit in Week 1 and became the fourth Rams rookie to record a sack in his debut. In Week 10, he became the first rookie to record a sack in three consecutive games since James Houston in 2022. According to Pro Football Focus, Verse has the best defensive grade (86.2), best pressure grade (83.7), and the fifth-best run defense grade (78.4) among all rookie defenders. From Weeks 9-17, he led all rookies in hurries (34), pressures (42), tied for second in forced fumbles (one), tied for fourth in tackles for loss (four), and tied for third in quarterback hits (six). Verse had a pair of seven-tackle games against Arizona in Week 2 and Philadelphia in Week 12.  

Verse is the second player in Rams franchise history to be selected Defensive Rookie of the Year by the PFWA, joining defensive tackle Aaron Donald in 2014.  

The Los Angeles Rams lead the All-Rookie selections with three, while the Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants, and Philadelphia Eagles each have three honorees. In all, 20 clubs are represented among the 27 players honored.