The Washington Commanders have a massive decision ahead on Thursday with the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft.
For more than two decades, one of the proudest organizations in the NFL has fallen into the gutter with one of the worst owners in the history of sports obliterating the culture, meddling in football decisions and creating constant scandal and drama in the nation’s capitol.
But it’s a new day in D.C. Now, Josh Harris and the new ownership group is in place and they hired the duo of GM Adam Peters and HC Dan Quinn to right the ship for a fan base starving for success.
For the Washington Commanders, it all starts with the quarterback they decide to select with the No. 2 overall pick on Thursday. This is a franchise that has had a revolving door at the QB position for almost all of the Snyder era and Peters — who played a major part in assembling the 49ers roster — was hired for his expertise in evaluation.
Until last week, almost everyone in media circles including ESPN Insider Adam Schefter believed Washington will use the No. 2 overall pick on last year’s Heisman Trophy winner, Jayden Daniels out of LSU.
Since the end of the college football season, Daniels has climbed up mock drafts and evaluations and dethroned UNC’s Drake Maye as the best QB available behind Caleb Williams, who is already locked in to go No.1 to the Chicago Bears.
But last week, the narrative began to change.
Washington hosted Daniels, Maye and two of the other top QBs of this year’s class — JJ McCarthy and Michael Penix — all together on a top 30 visit which is a rare strategy for a NFL team.
Since then, there have been rumors that Daniels doesn’t want to play in Washington and the Las Vegas sports books have even changed the odds to favor Maye getting selected by the Commanders, not Daniels.
On the Saturday ahead of the NFL Draft, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler explained why rumors about Jayden Daniels‘ hesitance with the Commanders could have some legitimacy.
Fowler joined SportsCenter to break down a bevy of NFL Draft prospects and had some interesting info on the guy long seen as the likely pick at No. 2.
“A ton of interest going Jayden Daniels’ way, why not, he’s a Heisman winner, but some questions about Daniels’ interest in going to Washington. What can you tell us on that front” Fowler was asked when on SC.
He admitted that you can’t rule out the possibility of Daniels actually not wanting to go to Washington, even though most folks still expect he gets selected there.
“Well, there’s a little bit of smoke there,” said Fowler. “So, people I talk to with the Commanders and other teams, they do believe Daniels is the favorite to be the pick at No. 2. Nothing set in stone of course, it is the draft. But I’m talking to somebody close with Daniels who believes that he has at least openly wondered about his options.”
Daniels has other teams in mind, but in the NFL Draft, it’s just hard to imagine how he escapes those top three teams, barring a trade, per Fowler.
“He has had interest in playing for the Raiders, who pick 13th and probably can’t get high enough to pick him.”
To cap off the conversation, Jeremy Fowler said that he’s ultimately not sure what’s going on in the mind of Jayden Daniels, but at the very least, he doesn’t appear to be embracing Washington too warmly in the lead up.
“I can’t confirm that he doesn’t want to play for Washington, but it hasn’t been an easy smooth process for whatever reason so far.”
Jayden Daniels Addresses Desire To Play For Washington Commanders
On Sunday night, Daniels joined Shannon Sharpe and Chad Ochocinco had the former LSU QB on as a guest on their “Night Caps” podcast and first asked him about reuniting with Antonio Pierce — who was the defensive coordinator when he played at Arizona — with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Daniels almost immediately shot down that notion.
“I don’t know how they would pull that off, it’s above my pay grade,” Daniels said. “I’m not saying I want to go to the Raiders, I want to go to whatever team wants me.”
Ochocinco then brought up the supporting cast Daniels had at LSU, especially with wide receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Johnson.
“The Washington Commanders are No.2, and I’m thinking you’re No. 2.. period.” Ochocinco said. “Look at the supporting cast you would have in D.C.”
“Oh they got some dogs over there,” Daniels said with a grin on his face.
Ochocinco then mentioned the wide receiver duo of Terry McClaurin and Jahan Dotson and told Daniels he’s going to be in “heaven,” before the former Heisman winner broke into clear laughter.
Daniels certainly didn’t look or sound like a player who doesn’t want to play for the Washington Commanders. On Thursday, all the questions will be answered for good.