The Dilemma of the Second Pick of the 2024 NFL Draft: Daniels or Maye?
The NFL Draft Is the Perfect Opportunity to Turn a Franchise Around
Clock’s Ticking ⏰
According to NFL news from around the league, it’s a foregone conclusion that the Chicago Bears will be picking USC’s Caleb Williams as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. However, the question Washington fans are asking is, who will the Commanders pick at No. 2?
Patiently waiting ⏳ pic.twitter.com/MnQm7s8SNk
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) April 22, 2024
Commanders GM Not Tipping His Hand
NFL rumors have been circulating as to which quarterback will Washington GM, Adam Peters, select as the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Drake Maye or last season’s Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels.
Most NFL mock drafts have the latter going at No. 2 but Peters has been tight-lipped, saying only that trading down is highly unlikely.
“We feel great about staying at No. 2,” Peters said, via ESPN. “I don’t see a whole lot of scenarios trading down.”
Jayden Daniels on his familiarity with #Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury. pic.twitter.com/uN7RxpLIkN
— Rob Maaddi (@RobMaaddi) April 24, 2024
When pressed last week about which quarterback he prefers, Peters was understandably evasive. The Commanders have interviewed several quarterbacks, therefore there is a remote possibility it could be someone other than Daniels or Maye.
“We’re real close,” he said. “Still a few more things in the process … We don’t need to make a decision until we need to make a decision; there’s no rush with that. We’ll probably have a good idea what we’re doing early next week.”
Jayden Daniels’ film exceeded Jason Garrett’s expectations ahead of the #NFLDraft. 🏈 pic.twitter.com/7Gj8fNYvBi
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) April 24, 2024
Peters also remarked on bringing in four quarterbacks on the same day at staggered intervals, saying, “What’s cool is we got to see them all together in a group setting. They all got a lot of time individually with coaches and with us. They were staggered coming in, too. It was a great blend of that and working everyone together in a fun environment.”
Who’s the Best Fit in DC?
Both quarterbacks have legions of admirers but before we begin, let’s put their 2023 stats on the table.
- Jayden Daniels – (2023 LSU) – 3,812 PY, 40 TDs, 4 INTs, 72.2%, 1,134 RY, 10 rushing TDs.
- Drake Maye – (2023 UNC) –3,608 PY, 24 TDs, 9 INTs, 63.3%, 449 RY, 9 rushing TDs.
We should note that Drake Maye operated in a less potent offense than Daniels last year and during the 2022 season, he turned heads by throwing for over 4,300 yards, tossing 38 passing touchdowns to just 7 interceptions, and gaining nearly 700 yards on the ground with 7 rushing TDs.
How high will Drake Maye go in the Draft? @FedEx
📺: 2024 #NFLDraft – Starts Thursday 8pm ET on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
📱: Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/V9HtaYFhri— NFL (@NFL) April 23, 2024
There appears to be greater support for Daniels going before Maye, especially after comparing their stats from last season. When Mississippi State linebacker and SEC Defensive Player of the Year, Nathaniel Watson, was asked about Daniels, Watson shuddered at the thought of the 41-14 loss to LSU the Bulldogs suffered last September, saying, “Oh, crazy. Just how fast he is. He’s just a hell of a player. There’s a reason why he won the Heisman.”
Watson was recalling Daniels’ masterful performance when he passed for 360 yards and two touchdowns, completed 30-of-34 of his passes, and ran for two TDs as well.
“Jayden Daniels, right now, is the better quarterback [than Drake Maye]. … He’s the ultimate dual-threat. … ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!”
—@MelKiperESPN is fired up over Daniels’ potential ahead of the draft 🔥 pic.twitter.com/QkvlJsOV1y
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) April 22, 2024
But then there is North Carolina wide receiver Tez Walker who gushed about his teammate, Drake Maye, at the Senior Bowl earlier this year, commenting, “Skill set-wise, everybody knows. They’ve seen the tape. But who he is as a person and a leader. Seeing him walk into a room and how everyone gravitates toward him. He’s just a natural-born leader.”
It’s never a bad time to check in on some Drake Maye highlights 🔥
CFB Live Blog: https://t.co/LXPH5p1LDM
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) October 1, 2022
The Commanders will have a difficult choice but after Jayden Daniels Heisman’s season, he would appear to be the logical choice.
Author: Sin City Sniper
Author: Sin City SniperBusting bookmakers and taking their money is his greatest joy in life. He’s been around the block more than once, knows the players both on and off the field of battle, and uses his experience to serve the bookies a heaping plate of humble pie washed down by a warm glass of their salty tears. You can find him in any number of Vegas books, sniping weak lines and getting paid to do it.
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