Commanders Mock Draft 2.0: Washington shakes up draft at No. 2, selects Jayden Daniels over Drake Maye
By John Blair
The Washington Commanders ended the 2023 season with eight straight losses, which led to the team already making several changes this offseason. This includes firing head coach Ron Rivera and bringing in Adam Peters as their new General Manager. Now the focus will be on what the Commanders do in the 2024 NFL Draft and free agency.
Luckily for the Commanders, they have plenty of ammunition this offseason. To start with the team has over 85 million dollars available in free agency, which is the most in the NFL. This should allow them to add at least three key starters before they go into the NFL Draft.
In the 2024 NFL Draft, the Washington Commanders have plenty of draft capital. The team has a total of nine picks and after trading Montez Sweat they have three picks in the top 40 selections. Look for the team to use most of these picks to add a franchise quarterback and address both sides of the line of scrimmage.
Mock 2.0: Washington Commanders create buzz in 2024 NFL Draft
Round 1 Pick 2: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Commanders Draft. . Jayden Daniels. 58. 2. QB. Round 1. LSU. Jayden Daniels. player
It should be a no brainer that the Washington Commanders take a quarterback with the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The team thought Sam Howell might be the answer going into the season, but he got benched for Jacob Brissett. It is also unlikely that a rebuilding team like the Commanders will try to find their quarterback in free agency or by trading for a veteran.
Jayden Daniels scrambles free for a huge gain for the Tigers 😤 pic.twitter.com/S455p4aymy
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) September 4, 2022
While the team would love to get Caleb Williams with this pick, he will almost certainly be taken with the number one overall pick. This leaves the team to pick between Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels. While most draftniks have Drake Maye as the second-best quarterback I look for that to change after the NFL Combine. Daniels is one of the more dynamic quarterbacks to come out of college football in recent years and is the only player in FBS history to pass for 12,000 yards and rush for 3,000 yards during his career. He is also a much improved passer this year leading college football with a quarterback rating of 208.