Several NFL teams are looking for a franchise quarterback. With Caleb Williams pretty much a lock to go No. 1 overall to the Chicago Bears, Jayden Daniels is very much in contention to be the second QB off the board. Let’s take a look at which teams are most likely to draft the LSU quarterback.
Current NFL Draft Odds for Jayden Daniels’ Landing Spot
Odds courtesy of DraftKings and correct as of April 3, 2024.
- Washington Commanders | -150
- New England Patriots | +150
- Minnesota Vikings | +800
- Las Vegas Raiders | +900
- Chicago Bears | +1100
- New York Giants | +1600
- Denver Broncos | +3500
- Tennessee Titans | +3500
What Is Daniels’ NFL Draft Projection?
Over the past month or so, the odds have flip-flopped between whether Daniels or Drake Maye will go No. 2 overall. With the draft still a few weeks away, it wouldn’t be a surprise if they continued to shift.
The Commanders currently hold the No. 2 overall pick. They also do not roster a legitimate starting QB. No, it’s not because they traded away Sam Howell. Even if he remained on the roster, they wouldn’t have a confirmed starting QB. Their 2024 starter is almost certainly going to be a rookie. It really comes down to whether they take Daniels or Maye.
If not to the Commanders at No. 2, Daniels is unlikely to make it past the Patriots at No. 3. After three years, the Patriots threw the towel in on Mac Jones. They are also likely well aware Bailey Zappe is not the answer.
Jacoby Brissett is an excellent bridge quarterback, but he’s not a long-term solution at the position. The Patriots need to draft their next quarterback and hope to get it right this time. If the Commanders pass on Daniels, the Patriots are expected by many to take the mobile LSU passer.
It would be a major surprise if Daniels made it past No. 3 overall. However, that doesn’t preclude another team from trading up to select the talented quarterback.
The Vikings are a prime candidate to take one after losing Kirk Cousins to the Atlanta Falcons. They have a roster built to win now outside of the quarterback position. Taking a pro-ready option like Daniels would give them a chance to compete right away.
The Raiders are in somewhat of a similar spot to the Vikings. They don’t pick particularly early but need a quarterback. Gardner Minshew II is a fine bridge QB, similar to Brissett in New England, but is unlikely to turn into a franchise quarterback. With that being said, a trade might prove difficult for the Raiders to pull off. Daniels makes sense in Las Vegas, but the path to his landing there is unlikely.
The next team in the odds is the Bears at +1100. Truthfully, that’s not nearly long enough. Now that the Bears have officially traded away Justin Fields, no one should even entertain the notion of any outcome other than them taking Williams at No. 1 overall. It would be a major surprise if the Bears ended up with Daniels. This is easily the worst bet you can make regarding Daniels’ landing spot.
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The Giants most certainly need a quarterback. Unfortunately, they don’t pick high enough to take one of the top guys. They would need to trade up in order to draft Daniels. Given the pieces available, that seems unlikely. The Giants’ successor to the failed Daniel Jones experiment is likely to come in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The best value on the board is Daniels to the Patriots at +150. It’s still too early to feel confident about him going No. 2. While laying -150 isn’t too bad, the Commanders could easily end up taking Maye, the guy who was initially projected to go No. 2 overall. Daniels at No. 3 to the Patriots is not a bad bet, but it’s far from a lock.
Daniels’ Scouting Report
Daniels is the third-ranked quarterback and 25th overall player on PFN’s NFL Draft Analyst Ian Cummings’ big board.
In Cummings’ scouting report, his strengths for Daniels include his speed, big-play ability, and quick release. However, Cummings also credited the LSU QB for his ability to read the field and use his lanes to open pockets for receivers.
Among the weaknesses that Cummings identified are Daniels’ durability, with a relatively slight frame compared to other prospects, and his less-than-elite arm strength, which can give opposing defenders the chance to close on the ball after release.
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