Jayden Daniels. Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Pair of top QBs linked to Commanders in latest mock drafts

By Bruce Ewing | Last updated 12/28/23

With a projected top-five selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, experts see the Commanders taking one of two top quarterback prospects with their first pick.

Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports sees three quarterbacks taken at the top of the draft. He has USC’s Caleb Williams going to Chicago with Justin Fields traded to the Raiders and North Carolina’s Drake Maye taking over for Arizona’s Kyler Murray with Murray being sent to the Vikings.

With the third pick, Trapasso has Washington moving on from quarterback Sam Howell in favor of Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels. The LSU quarterback led LSU to a 9-3 record in 2023 with 3,812 yards, 40 touchdowns and a 208.0 quarterback rating.

Good morning to the one and only 2023 Heisman Trophy Winner

Jayden Daniels pic.twitter.com/VJ4G0FLGSy
— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) December 10, 2023

Trapasso notes Daniels’ play “fizzled” down the stretch but in the Tigers final three games (all wins), the 23-year-old QB threw for 1,020 yards with 13 touchdowns and no interceptions. He’s college football’s top-rated quarterback according to Pro Football Focus, making him a good alternative to Williams and Maye.

Meanwhile, Pro Football Network’s A.J. Shulte thinks Arizona will take Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. with the No. 2 pick, allowing the Commanders to take Maye at No. 3. In 2022, the Tar Heels quarterback completed 66.2% of his passes for 4,321 yards and 38 touchdowns with 698 yards rushing and seven more scores.

Maye fell off a bit after losing offensive coordinator Phil Longo to Wisconsin in 2023, but many believe he’s as good, if not better than Williams. PFN’s Ian Cummings calls Maye one of the best prospects to come out over the past few cycles with talent rivaling young quarterbacks like Trevor Lawrence, Joe Burrow, and C.J. Stroud.

Cummings also thinks Maye should be the top pick in next year’s draft, which barring a trade, would keep him out of Washington. The Commanders will keep quarterback Sam Howell out of the starting lineup moving forward, which makes a move for Daniels or Maye even more likely.

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