NFL Draft: Jayden Daniels sets sights on surpassing Michael Vick, Lamar Jackson as greatest running QB ever

Ask any NFL fan to name the greatest running quarterbacks of all time, and Michael Vick, Lamar Jackson, Cam Newton, Randall Cunningham and Steve Young are probably some of the names you’ll hear in response. 

Jayden Daniels, if he has it his way, will not only enter that conversation, but will be regarded as the greatest running quarterback in league history when it’s all said and done. 

“[Vick] was the first, but I think Lamar’s got him now,” Daniels told CBS Sports when asked if Vick is the greatest running QB of all time. “I’m in the league now, so I’m trying to go past them.” 

Daniels’ running ability was a huge aspect of his game at LSU. Last fall, he ran for a whopping 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns while averaging 8.4 yards per carry. Daniels ran for an incredible 234 yards and two touchdowns against Florida in a game that saw him become the first FBS player to rush for at least 200 yards and throw for 350 in the same game. 

What makes Daniels especially dangerous is his ability to take off and run at a moment’s notice. At LSU, Daniels did a lot of damage with his legs when the defense was too busy trying to stop him vertically. Daniels also got plenty of yards on designed runs, too. 

Given his desire to become the greatest running quarterback ever, it shouldn’t be a surprise that Daniels said he’d rather score on a long run than on a long pass, like the 51-yard jaunt he had last year against Florida. 

Running, though, is not what Daniels said is his greatest strength as a football player. 

“I would say my football IQ,” he said. “I pride myself on being a smart football player. Being able to eliminate what the defense isn’t doing. I kind of have two or three things in my head pre-snap. … Being able to check into runs and check protections based on leverage and stuff like that. I take pride in learning about football and knowing football at a high…

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