Jayden Daniels will be sporting the No. 5 number he wore at LSU after all.
That was in doubt this season, given that punter Tress Way wore the No. 5 jersey for the Washington Commanders last season. But he conceded the number to the rookie quarterback in a video posted to social media on Thursday:
BREAKING NEWS 🚨 pic.twitter.com/ge1vnAJnWT
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 9, 2024
Zach Selby of Commanders.com reported that “with a little negotiating between the two players, Way decided to pass the jersey number on to Daniels.”
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Way “did not want a cash transaction” from Daniels for the No. 5 jersey. As part of the number exchange, Daniels “plans to send Way and his family to an Oklahoma-LSU football game, presumably with good seats,” after the punter retires, Schefter added.
Commanders P Tress Way did not want a cash transaction from Jayden Daniels for the No. 5. Instead, as part of the exchange, when Way is done with his NFL career, Daniels plans to send Way and his family to an Oklahoma-LSU football game, presumably with good seats, per source. pic.twitter.com/93QeMAOE6G
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 10, 2024
While Way and Daniels haven’t come to an agreement on what would be exchanged in the number swap—the veteran punter said it won’t be cash—Way said he felt it was the right thing to do.
“I just feel like there’s just so much excitement around this organization, hands down the most I have ever seen,” Way said on Command Center, per Selby. “All of the excitement [is] building and building and building. I just feel like this is… a very small part that I could do.
The official handoff pic.twitter.com/f6gmVZC8lZ
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 9, 2024
Way, who has been one of Washington’s team captains in the past, originally didn’t want to give away the number. It had added significance for him, given that he picked it when Washington selected him off the waiver wire a decade ago after the Chicago Bears released him for a second time.
But after a conversation with his wife, he decided that part of being a captain and leader was sacrifice.
“It is a very big piece of humble pie to give up this number,” Way said. “But I feel like it’s a bite I should take either way. I feel like it’s the right thing.”
Who's cutting onions? 🥹
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 10, 2024
Way, 34, is a two-time Pro Bowler and has been with the Commanders for the duration of his 10-year career. His career is quite the story, given his humble origins as an undrafted free agent.
Daniels, 23, will start his career on a completely different trajectory.
He was the No. 2 overall pick in April’s draft and the future of the organization very much hangs on his right shoulder. A 10-year veteran may not normally be thrilled about giving away his number to a rookie, but quarterbacks are the faces of NFL franchises and Daniels represents a new era of Commanders football.
