Jayden Daniels reveals what’s behind Treylon Burks’ breakout with Commanders after disappointing Titans tenure
Jayden Daniels credited Treylon Burks’ growing confidence and fresh start in Washington for his deep-ball success, as the former Titans first-rounder emerges as a key playmaker.
Treylon Burks is finally beginning to look like the explosive receiver the Tennessee Titans believed they were drafting in the first round.
The difference is that he’s doing it for the Washington Commanders.
Burks has emerged as one of Jayden Daniels’ most effective downfield targets this season, recording 12 catches for 233 yards and two touchdowns while averaging a career-high 19.4 yards per reception.
After Wednesday’s practice, Daniels was asked what has made Burks so effective on deep passes.
His answer wasn’t just about speed or athleticism.
Daniels pointed to Burks’ growing confidence, explaining that the receiver has continued to become more comfortable since offseason workouts and has benefited from a fresh start after a difficult beginning to his career.
“He’s super fast, but just his confidence. You can see his confidence continue to grow. I know just having conversations with him, you know, early on his career, it was rough for him. And, obviously where he was drafted, he has the ability too, but coming here is like a fresh start. You could just see his confidence continue to grow from OTAs until up to this point.”
For a player who struggled to meet expectations in Tennessee, that change is beginning to show up on the field.
Daniels shares the same sentiment as a lot of us watching this offense. The talent was never the question with Burks. Tennessee drafted him with real expectations, and those early years in Nashville didn’t come close to meeting them. A change of scenery, a quarterback who trusts him and a role built around what he does well have him playing like a completely different receiver.
Washington is finally on the right side of a reclamation project
For years, Commanders fans have watched players leave Washington and find success somewhere else.
Treylon Burks is giving them a chance to enjoy the opposite.
The former Tennessee Titans first-round pick arrived in Washington in 2025 after a disappointing beginning to his NFL career. His first season with the Commanders produced just 130 receiving yards, but 2026 has been a different story.
Burks is emerging as a legitimate downfield threat for Jayden Daniels, and his quarterback believes the biggest change has been confidence.
That’s encouraging for Washington because it suggests Burks isn’t simply benefiting from a few fortunate plays. He’s becoming more comfortable in his role and developing the trust needed to make an impact in this offense.
The numbers back up the confidence
Confidence is nice to talk about. Production is what keeps you on the field. Burks has both.
Through this point in the season, Burks has 12 catches for 233 yards & two touchdowns. That works out to 19.4 yards per reception, which is exactly what you want from a guy Daniels is targeting down the field. When Burks catches the ball, Washington is flipping field position or putting points on the board.
The latest example came against Philadelphia.
Burks caught three passes for 81 yards in Washington’s 27-10 victory, including a 53-yard reception that demonstrated exactly why Daniels has become comfortable looking his way downfield.
That performance followed a four-catch, 66-yard outing against San Francisco, giving Burks 147 receiving yards across his last two games.
He’s still operating on relatively limited volume, but the explosive plays are becoming a regular part of his production.
And with Terry McLaurin unavailable, Washington may need even more of them.
The context makes those numbers even better. Burks already has the most receiving touchdowns he’s ever had in a single season. His 19.4 yards per catch is the highest of his career. He also sits just 212 yards away from a career high in receiving yards, with the rest of the season still to play.
Burks’ role only grows without McLaurin
The Commanders’ receiver room is about to lean on Burks harder than anyone expected back in the spring. Without Terry McLaurin at the WR1 position for the remainder of the year, the targets have to go somewhere. McLaurin has been the steady centerpiece of this passing game for years, and replacing that production isn’t a one-man job.
Burks doesn’t need to become McLaurin. He needs to keep being the guy who stretches a defense and makes safeties think twice about creeping toward the line. If he does that, Daniels gets more room underneath for everyone else, and Washington’s offense keeps its explosive edge.
The confidence Daniels talked about is going to get tested with a bigger workload and more attention from opposing defenses. Based on how Burks has handled every step from OTAs until now, betting against him feels like a mistake.
Expect more of the Treylon Burks renaissance season.
