2024 NFL Draft: Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels climb updated QB rankings
By Hunter Haas
Jayden Daniels Continues Rising Up The Ranks
QB3: Jayden Daniels (LSU)
A one-time Arizona State Sun Devil, Jayden Daniels has cemented his status as a legitimate Day 1 prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft. His time with LSU has brought improved mechanics and instilled the confidence necessary for a starting quarterback on Sundays.
Positives: Anticipation, Speed, Ability Out-Of-Structure, Trust In His Pass Catchers
Negatives: Frame, Velocity, Vision From The Pocket
Consider me all in on the Jayden Daniels hype train. After watching a few All-22 tapes from his 2023 stint, it’s clear to see why NFL front offices are clamoring at the thought of adding him to their locker room. He is a proven leader who excels when lights are at their brightest. Seeing the way Jalen Hurts has used a similar trait to become a star in the league paints a path toward the same for Daniels.
The anticipation he throws with is nothing short of remarkable. He consistently throws his receivers open and has the ball out before they even finish their route. Possessing the touch Daniels has in spades is an incredibly difficult thing to teach — oftentimes, you either have it or you don’t. And he has it.
When Daniels escapes the pocket, he is a genuine threat to score on any given snap. Whether it be as a passer out of structure or as a runner, the LSU standout is impossible to stop when he’s in the zone. These dual-threat capabilities align with the trend of the top quarterbacks in the league, making Daniels an intriguing prospect on Day 1.
But he’s not without his faults. The biggest of which is his frame. While Daniels has added considerable weight since moving to Baton Rouge — shout-out Gumbo — he still looks like a flag pole. Will he be able to hold up for a full 17-game slate if he subjects himself to big hits week in and week out?
Daniels also has work to do with his fundamentals in the pocket. Out in space, he boasts impeccable vision, but too often in the pocket he outright misses his receivers break open, primarily over the middle. Height isn’t an issue, so that isn’t the reason why; it’s more about trusting what he sees rather than what he doesn’t see. That is an area where an NFL coaching staff can make all the difference.