Draft grades!
There is a long tradition of people giving draft picks a grade less than 24 hours after they’ve been made. Some of them are spot on after the players have shown who they are after a few years in the league, and some of them look pretty bad. A lot of graders get stuck on their personal rankings, and will tank a player’s selection because of that. How a player fits with a team, and their needs plays a big part here as well.
The Washington Commanders did what most people expected them to do last night, drafting LSU QB Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 overall pick. Adam Peters said the team knew he was the pick two weeks ago, and everyone in the building was behind their pick. Daniels won the Heisman Trophy last season, and was one of the most exciting players to watch in college football.
The pick has received high grades from the NFL community, but there is a small sliver of analysts who knock them for picking Daniels over North Carolina QB Drake Maye. Washington picked the QB they wanted to, and that position has been a need here for decades. Jayden Daniels is expected to step right into the starting spot that was held by Sam Howell last season.
Washington Commanders 2024 Draft Picks
Round 1(#2) – Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Round 2(#36)
Round 2 (#40 from CHI)
Round 3 (#67)
Round 3 (#78 from SEA)
Round 3 (#100 from SF)
Round 5 (#139)
Round 5 (#152 from SEA)
Round 7 (#222)
Touchdown Wire (A+)
Of all the quarterbacks in this draft class, Daniels has more on the ball in terms of the balance between structure from the pocket, and the ability to play above and beyond the Xs and Os. The Commanders had a quarterback very much like this when they selected Robert Griffin III with the second overall pick in 2012. History may be on the way to repeating itself.
The Athletic(A)
It’s a new day in Washington D.C., now complete with a new QB. The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner, Daniels threw for 57 touchdowns to just seven picks in two years with the Tigers. He was one of the most improved players in the country during that stretch, too. An electric dual-threat passer with elite speed and short-area quicks in space, Daniels is unique and built for the modern game.
Some had Daniels a bit behind Drake Maye, though Daniels was worthy of a top-five choice this year. He has to be better against pressure and show he can throw inside the numbers, but he’s a serious playmaker who knows how to lead and brings with him a terrific work ethic.
Athlon Sports(A)
Daniels made huge strides last season as a passer, which is why he ended up earning this draft slot. Yes, the game-breaking speed and elite playmaking skills as a runner are a huge plus, but it’s his ability to win from the pocket and distribute the ball to his playmakers that should allow him to be a successful starter in the NFL. He enters the league with a ton of starting experience against top competition under his belt, which should aid his development. In any other year, he easily could have been the No. 1 overall pick.
CBS Sports(A)
I love this pick. It’s a great situation for a rookie. The team has a new owner, coach and now quarterback. They can grow together. He will be the best QB in this class.
DraftKings Nation(A)
Daniels won the Heisman trophy after a tremendous 2023. His speed pops off the field, but his pocket presence, accuracy and touch is a huge strength. He’ll need to learn to protect himself as a runner more in the NFL, but if he can stay healthy, he’s a great start to a new era in Washington. His ability as a runner should help him keep the offense moving while he adjusts to the NFL. This was a no-brainer pick as the Commanders get their man.
Fox Sports(A)
The reigning Heisman Trophy winner offers a dazzling combination of slithery scrambling ability and deep-ball accuracy that make him a nightmare to defend. He is a polarizing prospect among scouts due to his relatively slim frame and the fact that his production at LSU was undeniably boosted by an exceptional receiving corps, but Daniels was a game-changer even back at Arizona State and consistently progressed throughout college. For a defensive-minded head coach like Dan Quinn, it is easy to understand why the Commanders see Daniels’ maturity and dual-threat ability as the perfect leader for Washington’s rebuild.
New York Post(A)
The reigning Heisman Trophy winner threw 34 touchdowns and zero interceptions on passes 15 yards or further downfield.
He is a better passer but not quite the runner as a younger Lamar Jackson.
NFL.com(A)
The ascension of Daniels during his senior season led to this moment. The inconsistency shown through his career at Arizona State and LSU disappeared, especially in the second half of the season, when his decisiveness in the pocket allowed throws to hit their targets and his elusiveness and speed as a runner caused defenses major headaches. The hope is Daniels continues to add weight to his frame as he matures, which would make him even stronger in the pocket to use his arm to distribute the ball to Commanders receivers Jahan Dotson and Terry McLaurin.
Sporting News(A)
The Commanders made the right choice over Drake Maye given Daniels can be like Lamar Jackson with his running ability and big-play passing. That lines up well with new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who made the most out of Kyler Murray in Arizona early. Daniels has a high athletic ceiling as a fellow Heisman winner to Williams.
Sportsnaut(A)
Despite some pre-draft drama between Daniels and the Commanders, this pick seemed pretty obvious throughout the pre-draft process. New Commanders general manager Adam Peters was always going to target a quarterback with the second pick. The reigning Heisman winner separated from others in the pack behind Williams. Last season at LSU, the young man tallied 50 total touchdowns compared to four interceptions. He gives Washington a future at the all-important quarterback position.
Walter Football(A)
Three possible quarterbacks were discussed as a possibility for the Redskins at No. 2. Ultimately, Washington made the correct decision. While J.J. McCarthy has a high floor and Drake Maye possesses an enormous ceiling, Jayden Daniels maintains both. He was the right choice for the Redskins despite some drama that occurred between between him and the organization during the top-30 visit.
Barstool Sports(A-)
Daniels is a great fit in Washington. I was a Drake Maye as QB2 guy, but Daniels is right there. Happy for all my Washington friends to get their QB of the future.
The 33rd Team(A-)
Strengths
Terrific downfield throw power and touch.
Excellent rushing threat.
Comfortable in empty formations.
Weaknesses
Rail thin frame and a propensity to take big hits.
Struggles to identify pre-snap coverages and anticipate open receivers.
Team Fit: Jayden Daniels should quickly take to Kliff Kingsbury’s offense and maximize a speedy set of wideouts. Things are about to get a lot more fun for the Washington Commanders, even if Daniels must continue to improve his field vision.
Pro Football Network (A-)
As the 2024 NFL Draft loomed, the rumors that the Washington Commanders would select LSU Tigers QB Jayden Daniels reached a deafening crescendo, with multiple analysts effectively calling it a “done deal,” despite rumors that a quarterback community outing to Top Golf had left the reigning Heisman Trophy winner unimpressed by the organization.
Although Daniels isn’t the top available quarterback available on the PFN Big Board, his fit with the Commanders – and especially offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury – makes this an extremely exciting selection for Washington fans.
It’s easy to become transfixed with the explosive dual-threat ability that he brings to the table, but it’s the former Arizona State and LSU quarterback’s development as a passer that has enabled his ascension from a skinny Sun Devil to the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Improvements in his footwork have allowed for greater accuracy and an unleashing of his arm talent since arriving in Baton Rouge, La. Between that progression and his dynamic ability to create out of structure, Daniels should be able to continue to produce at a high level as an NFL starter.
SB Nation(B+)
The Commanders needed a QB who could provide some pop, and Daniels does that. He’s a big play waiting to happen with his arm and legs, and those explosive plays will work well with Kliff Kingsbury. I have a lot of questions about his ability to mitigate taking massive shots as a runner and passer, and his ability to throw over the middle, but he won’t be asked to do so in Washington. This is a good pick.
Sports Illustrated(B+)
Daniels has enjoyed a meteoric rise throughout the last year, going from a pro afterthought to a top choice. Last year with LSU, Daniels totaled 50 touchdowns (throwing for 40) while earning the Heisman Trophy.
In Washington, Daniels inherits a team with a revamped offensive line along with a top receiver in Terry McLaurin. However, he also takes on a franchise starved for success, being run by entirely new personnel from ownership to the coaching staff. Big changes for all involved.
Bleacher Report(B)
Strengths: Exceptional athlete with game-breaking speed, ultra tough despite slight frame, excellent deep-ball passer, continually improved throughout collegiate career
Weaknesses: Reckless attitude when running makes him prone to big hits, doesn’t attack every spot on the field as a passer, viable but not top-tier arm strength
No prospect had a greater rise throughout the 2023 campaign than LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels.
The Arizona State transfer showed improvement upon joining the Tigers in 2022. But he erupted for a Heisman Trophy-winning performance this past fall. Daniels threw for 3,812 yards, ran for 1,134 more and contributed 50 total touchdowns during his final year on campus.
On top of being an experienced upperclassman, Daniels received help from what amounts to a quarterback “flight simulator” coordinated by LSU’s director of performance innovation, Jack Mariucci, which allowed more mental reps in game-like scenarios.
“It kind of put him in a visualization,” LSU quarterback coach Joe Sloan told The Athletic’s Alec Lewis. “I think it’s just about making decisions. Make a decision. Make a decision. Make a decision. It was an opportunity to sit there and make a lot of decisions in a short amount of time, and you’re not sweating. It’s huge.”
As Daniels progressed as a passer, his athleticism unlocked his full potential, as defenses couldn’t handle both phases of his game. The 6’4”, 210-pound dual-threat option takes some wicked hits and needs to protect himself better in the NFL, though.
LSU’s offense also didn’t allow Daniels to consistently work the middle of the field, which is an area where he’ll need to continue improving. Otherwise, the reigning AP College Football Player of the Year should be an instant weapon in the NFL.
“I tell people this: Outside of Patrick Mahomes, I haven’t coached against someone like this,” an FBS opponent told The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman about Daniels. “He’s just very hard to defend. We tried to force him to run it to take it out of his hands. The throws he makes and the timing he has, I thought was second to none. He throws the deep ball extremely accurately.”
While Daniels’ rise can’t be denied, North Carolina’s Drake Maye is arguably a better overall prospect and might have been a better pick at No. 2. But the Commanders have their new franchise quarterback after moving on from Sam Howell, and the Josh Harris ownership era can start fresh at the game’s most important position.
USA Today(B)
Make no mistake, this is a plenty exciting move for Washington to kick-start a new day under Dan Quinn and Adam Peters. But this might not necessarily be the safe pick some deem it to be. The Heisman Trophy winner can be an electric presence behind center. Still, Daniels needs to speed up his processing and learn to attack the middle of the field more often. Above all, it’s on the Commanders to leverage his scintillating running skills and ability to pick apart defenses from the pocket while keeping him off a Justin Fields-like trajectory in the early portion of his career.
FanSided(B-)
There is absolutely a world wherein Jayden Daniels is a multi-time Pro Bowler and leads the Washington Commanders to a ton of team success. His big-play ability with his arm and legs is obvious and he could provide that under OC Kliff Kingsbury. But he has obvious shortcomings, most notably his short and middle-field accuracy along with a slight-ish frame that could open him up to injuries when he’s on the move. Most importantly, I just don’t think I can fully justify taking him, especially at 24 years old, over Drake Maye. I don’t hate it entirely, but I definitely don’t love it.
The Ringer(B-)
There had been some speculation over the last few days that the Commanders would zag and take North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye at this spot, but Washington ultimately went with the Heisman winner in Daniels. The former Tigers star is an electric dual-threat signal-caller with the skill set to quickly become one of the most exciting quarterbacks in the NFL. I’ve got a few reservations about Daniels’s profile: His accuracy can be erratic, he plays a reckless style (which is especially concerning considering he brings a rail-thin frame), and he has a penchant for taking sacks or taking off running when pressured. I also have Maye ranked higher on my board. Still, I have little doubt that Daniels will bring energy to the Washington offense, and I can’t wait to watch.
Yahoo Sports(C+)
The Commanders got their quarterback, but it’s fair to wonder if they took the right guy here. Daniels blossomed in his fifth and final year of college football, taking home the Heisman Trophy in a dazzling season for LSU. Daniels is on the older side and doesn’t have elite physical tools as a passer but he’ll be an immediate asset in the run game. Drake Maye felt like a better pick. Regardless, the Commanders desperately needed a quarterback and they got one.
Pro Football Focus(Average)
Daniels is QB3 behind Drake Maye on both the PFF big board and the consensus big board, but the new regime in Washington takes him at No. 2 overall. Daniels does make sense as a theoretical fit in a Kliff Kingsbury spread-to-run offense that will allow Daniels to add on in the run game and get the ball out to players in space.
E$PN+(Kiper)
It should go without saying that I liked the Commanders and Patriots getting their quarterbacks of the future at Nos. 2 and 3, respectively. Jayden Daniels will give a jolt to the entire Washington franchise, and he’s in a good spot to play well early. Drake Maye won’t have as good of pass-catchers around him in New England, but he’s the type of talent to build around. I have higher grades on Maye and Daniels than I did on Mac Jones in 2021.
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