The Washington Commanders likely knew for weeks leading up to the NFL Draft that they wanted Jayden Daniels, but they reportedly considered one other quarterback. That quarterback was not Drake Maye.
In the days leading up to the draft, rumors swirled that Daniels did not want to play for the Commanders. That talk contributed to a significant odds shift that saw Daniels briefly become only a slight favorite over Maye to be taken second overall.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, those who caused that odds shift were betting on the wrong QB. Schefter said on “The Pat McAfee Show” Monday that former Michigan star J.J. McCarthy was the only other quarterback the Commanders considered taking.
“The truth is the Commanders, the two quarterbacks they had in consideration at No. 2 were Jayden Daniels and JJ McCarthy,” Schefter said. “Drake Maye wasn’t going No. 2. He just wasn’t going No. 2. He was gonna go No. 3 to New England.”
Daniels put the talk about him not wanting to play for Washington to rest just before the draft. At that point, it became clear that he was going to go No. 2.
There were still questions about whether the Patriots would take Maye or McCarthy at No. 3, but they went with the “chalk” pick as well and took Maye. A stunning decision a little further down the board then made it so McCarthy was not even the third QB drafted.
The way the first three picks of the draft went was yet another reminder that rumors leading up to the big event are often nothing more than nonsense that is leaked by agents and others who are trying to manipulate how things are going to unfold.
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