Breaking: Commanders Closing In On Deal To Sign $150 Million Worth QB

The Commanders will host all three of the top quarterback prospects likely to be available when they pick second overall. While the crew still has work to do in the current review process, a favorite may have emerged.

Opinions are split on which passer, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, or J.J. McCarthy, will come off the board after Caleb Williams (who is largely projected to be selected first overall). Daniels’ stock has risen during the pre-draft process, following his Heisman-winning season in 2023. As a result, he is still a strong candidate for the presidency.

According to ESPN’s Matt Miller, NFL execs and scouts believe Daniels is the most likely pick for the Commanders. However, none of the evaluators polled for that assessment are from the Commanders’ organization, therefore the team’s final selection will most likely not be known until the night of Round 1. Still, it is unsurprising that Washington is considering Daniels.

The Arizona State transfer has spent the previous two years at LSU. He had by far his most productive season in 2023, scoring 50 total touchdowns (40 passing, 10 rushing) while completing 72.5% of his throws and throwing only four interceptions. Daniels has been praised for his processing abilities, in addition to his impressive running numbers.

However, he will be 24 by the end of his rookie season in the NFL, raising fears that Maye and/or McCarthy have greater potential. Both members of the latter group have a significantly larger body than Daniels, and concerns have been expressed about his ability to tolerate the physicality of the pro game, particularly given his dual-threat skill set. Still, Daniels should provide a pretty high floor for his next team, and the interest displayed by other teams in need of a quarterback means he won’t have to wait long to hear his name called.

Washington has a ‘top 30’ visit lined up with each of Daniels, Maye and McCarthy next week. It is after that point that first-year general manager Adam Peters, new head coach Dan Quinn and Co. will arrive at a final commitment with respect to a new franchise signal-caller. As John Keim notes in the aforementioned ESPN piece, Quinn has stated post-snap processing is a trait being targeted in the Commanders’ ongoing search. That factor – along with the expectations of personnel around the league – could point in Daniels’ direction for the second overall pick.