ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter joined the Trap or Dive Podcast to preview the Washington Commanders‘ upcoming NFL Draft, and he feels confident that the team will choose quarterback Jayden Daniels with the second overall pick.
Adam Schefter Says Washington Will Pick Jayden Daniels
Schefter has been reporting for some time now that he believes Daniels will be heading to Washington. Most recently, he said it is safe for Commanders fans to order their Daniels’ jerseys.
“I think you can go get those Jayden Daniels jerseys,” Schefter said. “When you get ’em I think you can get me one too; send ’em my way too.”
Daniels is in consideration for the No. 2 overall pick alongside North Carolina’s Drake Maye and Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy.
Last week, Schefter said he and others were discouraged from spoiling the picks ahead of time, but signs pointed to Daniels heading to Washington, D.C. On the latest episode of “The Adam Schefter Podcast,” Schefter doubled down on Daniels and the Commanders.
“I will stand behind that,” Schefter said. “The signs continue to point to Jayden Daniels going No. 2 to Washington.”
On an earlier podcast, Schefter said Daniels appeals to Washington and it is likely that they will go with him.
“I know we’re not supposed to spoil picks, and we’ll see how the Commanders decide to move forward with the No. 2 overall selection,” Schefter said. “But a little over a few weeks out, to me, I think the signs continue to point to Jayden Daniels being the second overall pick. Seems like he’s popular in the scouting community; seems like he’d bring a lot of the attributes that the Commanders would like.”
According to Schefter, Daniels is meeting with the team on Monday and Tuesday next week in an overnight visit.
Daniels’ Potential in the NFL
In a 2023 campaign that won him the Heisman Trophy, Daniels completed 236 of 327 attempts (72.2%) for 3,812 yards, 40 touchdowns, and just four interceptions. Meanwhile, on the ground, he rushed for 1,134 yards and 10 additional scores.
Pro Football Network draft analyst Ian Cummings said Daniels grades out as a top-15 prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft and a legitimate franchise QB option in the class. He is Cummings QB3 behind Maye and Caleb Williams.
“Daniels’ Heisman-winning 2023 campaign was a microcosm of his big-play ability,” Cummings said. “He’s an incredible pure rushing threat with his speed, burst, agility, and bend at his size, and he’s also a deep ball merchant with impressive leverage ID skills and deadly downfield touch … Daniels, on Day 1, should be a dynamic presence as a passer, a runner, and an RPO conductor at the NFL level.”
The 2024 NFL Draft will begin with the first round at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 25 in Detroit. The second and third rounds will be held on Friday, April 26, starting at 7 p.m. ET, followed by Rounds 4-7 on Saturday, April 27, beginning at noon ET.
Daniels is among 13 of the prospects expected to be in attendance.
