Jayden Daniels, a draft prospect for the New England Patriots and former LSU quarterback, captured considerable notice with his throwing arm during Wednesday’s events, though not necessarily for positive reasons.
During his Pro Day at LSU, observers noted an anomaly on his throwing arm’s elbow, sparking discussion on social media. However, as Dr. Jesse Morse clarified, this condition is unlikely to hinder his performance or future health.
Morse, writing on X (formerly Twitter), noted that Daniels seems to be dealing with olecranon bursitis in his right throwing elbow, but ultimately described it as merely an “eye sore.” The sports medicine doctor explained that this condition typically doesn’t have a negative impact on a player, stating that it shouldn’t affect Daniels’ throwing ability or cause any pain—it’s simply a visual anomaly.
Throughout his collegiate career, Daniels displayed durability despite concerns among scouts and analysts due to his slender frame at 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, and his willingness to take hits while rushing.
Nevertheless, Daniels impressed many during his Pro Day with remarkable throws, including deep shots to wide receivers Brian Thomas Jr. and Malik Nabers. This performance was unsurprising given his achievements in the 2023 season, where he won the Heisman Trophy after throwing for 3,812 yards and 40 touchdowns.
Keith Sanchez of The Draft Network highlighted that the aspect of Daniels’ game that improved the most in 2023 was his accuracy on deep passes.
During the Pro Day, Daniels met with Patriots scout Alonzo Highsmith, potentially intensifying competition for his services in New England. Additionally, the Washington Commanders, who hold the No. 2 pick in the draft, also sent representatives to observe Daniels’ performance.
Morse provided a detailed analysis of Daniels’ elbow, accompanied by pictures and diagrams. It appears that this issue has been present since at least last season, with Daniels using either tape, a sleeve, or no covering at all to address it.
According to Morse, the problem involves inflammation of the bursa—a sac typically empty and serving as protection for the underlying bone—in the elbow joint. This inflammation, often triggered by impacting the elbow against a hard surface, leads the body to fill the bursa with fluid as a protective measure against bone fractures.
Such occurrences are common and more of an annoyance than a cause for concern, provided they are not infected. While they can be drained with a needle, the bursa often refills. Morse noted that he has had success in permanently alleviating this issue by injecting PRP (plasma from the blood), although for some individuals, it can be stubborn.
Despite the focus on Daniels’ elbow, he directed attention to his former LSU teammate Greg Brooks Jr., who has been battling a brain tumor. Daniels paid tribute to Brooks by wearing his No. 3 on a long-sleeved purple shirt during his throws at the Pro Day.
Speaking through ESPN’s Katherine Terrell, Daniels emphasized Brooks’ presence in spirit and expressed support for his teammates who didn’t receive invites to the combine, highlighting the opportunity to showcase their talents and pursue their own paths in the NFL.
