Washington Commanders

The Washington Commanders selected LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels with the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft on Thursday night. Daniels should enter Week 1 as the team's starter under center after Washington traded last year's starter, Sam Howell, to the Seahawks this offseason. The 23-year-old Heisman Trophy winner last year might be the most physically gifted QB in this draft class, although there is some concern that he might not be able to withstand the beating at the position, especially if he continues to take unnecessary hits as a runner. Like Caleb Williams, the upside is off the charts, and he'll have a strong No. 1 receiver in Terry McLaurin and a strong backfield behind him with Austin Ekeler and Brian Robinson Jr.

Word around the league is that the Washington Commanders have advocates in their building for both LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels and North Carolina QB Drake Maye. However, almost everyone polled for The Athletic's story believed Daniels was destined for Washington with new general manager Adam Peters hot for Daniels. The belief from rival teams is that the Commanders had been leaning toward Maye much earlier in the pre-draft process, but Daniels has done enough to lock himself into the No. 2 pick. One executive from a team outside of the top 10 wouldn't rule out a brief Daniels slide, perhaps down to No. 4. Still, it's highly unlikely Daniels drops out of the top five. If he goes to D.C., he'll be favored to start from Day 1 in his rookie season.

On The Pat McAfee Show, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said "it's been tracking for LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels to go at No. 2" to the Washington Commanders. However, no final decision has been made yet, and Schefter reports that Daniels has had an interest in being other places besides D.C. Daniels appears to be the Commanders' preference at No. 2 overall in next week's draft, but perhaps something changes now if they don't think he'll be fully committed to playing for their organization. General manager Adam Peters said on Thursday that it's pretty much a done deal that Washington won't trade out of the No. 2 pick, but his nugget from Schefter could change some things. In the end, Schefter still thinks Daniels is the favorite to go second overall to the Commanders.

The Minnesota Vikings brass is scheduled to meet with LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels for dinner on Thursday night in Baton Rouge, according to agent Ron Butler. Daniels is widely expected to come off the board in the top three picks of next week's NFL draft, so if the Vikings are going to land the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner, they would need to trade up within the first round. Minnesota acquired the No. 23 overall pick in a trade this spring with the Houston Texans, so they now hold two first-round selections at Nos. 11 and 23. The Vikings are clearly in the market for a signal-caller after Kirk Cousins left in free agency and signed with the Atlanta Falcons, so it wouldn't be surprising to see the team trade up within the first five picks to select Daniels or another QB prospect.

Former LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels is going on a top-30 visit with the New York Giants on Monday, reported by NFL insider Ian Rapoport. The 2024 Heisman Trophy winner is projected to be taken as high as No. 2 overall to the Washington Commanders, but New York has remained interested in meeting and visiting with him. In his fifth collegiate season, Daniels threw for 3,812 yards, 40 touchdowns, and four interceptions and rushed 135 times for 1,134 yards and ten scores. Giants head coach Brian Daboll has had success with mobile quarterbacks like Josh Allen and Daniel Jones, so this could be a great fit. The G-Men are slated to pick No. 6 overall, meaning they'd likely have to trade up to acquire Daniels. Wherever Daniels lands, he has top-12 potential in fantasy football right away thanks to his elite rushing upside.