After winning the 2023 Heisman Trophy, Jayden Daniels has quickly become one of the NFL’s most exciting young stars, now playing for the Washington Commanders. Taken second overall in the draft, Daniels has brought a level of athleticism and dynamic play that Washington has been missing at the quarterback position for years.
In his first two games, the Commanders are 1-1, and Daniels has put his incredible speed on full display. He’s already established himself as one of the fastest quarterbacks in the league, even as a rookie. But just how fast is he?
How Fast is Jayden Daniels?
While there’s no perfect way to measure his speed against others, we can look at his 40-yard dash times and in-game speeds to get a sense of how he stacks up.
Jayden Daniels’ 40-Yard Dash Time
Like some other star quarterbacks, Daniels didn’t run the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. However, back when he was at Arizona State from 2019-2021, he reportedly clocked a 4.5-second 40-yard dash. Though he didn’t run the 40 during LSU’s Pro Day, he did participate in throwing drills before being drafted.
In April, Daniels confidently claimed he could run a 4.25-second 40-yard dash, which would place him among the fastest quarterbacks in history.
For context, here are the five fastest official 40-yard dash times for quarterbacks at the NFL Combine:
| Rank | Player | Year | 40-Yard Dash Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Vick | 2001 | 4.33 |
| 2 | Reggie McNeal | 2006 | 4.40 |
| 3 | Robert Griffin III | 2012 | 4.41 |
| 4 | Anthony Richardson | 2023 | 4.43 |
| 5 | Justin Fields | 2021 | 4.45 |
Even if Daniels’ 4.5-second dash at Arizona State didn’t quite crack the top five, it still ranks him among the fastest quarterbacks in the NFL.
Daniels’ In-Game Speed
In terms of real-time speed during games, Daniels has been known to hit impressive numbers. During an 85-yard touchdown run in 2023, he reportedly reached a top speed of 21.8 mph. In 2022, LSU coach Brian Kelly revealed that Daniels hit 21 mph in practice, something Daniels later confirmed.
While Daniels hasn’t officially broken into the list of the NFL’s top in-game ball carriers for 2024 just yet, he’s shown he can approach the 21-22 mph range, which puts him in elite company for speed.
Fastest NFL Players in 2024 (Through Week 3)
For comparison, here are the top speeds recorded by NFL players so far this season:
| Rank | Player | Team | Position | Speed (mph) | Week | Play Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nico Collins | Texans | WR | 21.89 | 1 | 55-yard rec. |
| 2 | Saquon Barkley | Eagles | RB | 21.66 | 3 | 65-yard rush TD |
| 3 | Jerome Ford | Browns | RB | 21.29 | 2 | 36-yard rush |
| 4 | Brandin Echols | Jets | CB | 21.27 | 2 | 0-yard INT |
| 5 | Alec Pierce | Colts | WR | 21.21 | 1 | 60-yard rec. TD |
| 6 | Anthony Gould | Colts | WR | 21.11 | 1 | 26-yard kickoff |
| 7 | A.J. Brown | Eagles | WR | 21.05 | 1 | 67-yard rec. TD |
| 8 | Jameson Williams | Lions | WR | 21.03 | 1 | 36-yard rec. |
| 9 | James Cook | Bills | RB | 20.99 | 2 | 49-yard rush TD |
| 10 | Tyler Badie | Broncos | RB | 20.99 | 3 | 43-yard rush |
While Daniels hasn’t cracked this top 10 list yet, his incredible speed, both in college and in his early NFL games, suggests it’s only a matter of time before we see his name among the fastest in the league.