The Washington Commanders will make a big decision on Thursday with the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft.
For more than two decades, one of the NFL’s proudest organizations has slipped into disarray, with one of the worst owners in sports history destroying the culture, interfering with football choices, and causing continual scandal and drama in the nation’s capital.
But it’s a new day in Washington, DC. Josh Harris and the new ownership group are now in place, and they’ve appointed GM Adam Peters and HC Dan Quinn to turn things around for a fan base hungry for success.
For the Washington Commanders, it all begins with the quarterback they select with the second overall pick on Thursday. This is a franchise that has had a revolving door at the quarterback position for practically the whole of Snyder’s tenure, and Peters, who was instrumental in creating the 49ers squad, was hired for his evaluating skills.
Until last week, almost everyone in the media, including ESPN Insider Adam Schefter, believed Washington would use the No. 2 overall pick on last year’s Heisman Trophy winner, Jayden Daniels of LSU.
Since the end of the collegiate football season, Daniels has risen in mock drafts and evaluations, dethroning UNC’s Drake Maye as the best quarterback available behind Caleb Williams, who is already set to go first overall to the Chicago Bears.
But last week, the story began to shift.
Washington welcomed Daniels, Maye, and two other elite quarterbacks in this year’s class — JJ McCarthy and Michael Penix — on a top 30 visit, an uncommon strategy for an NFL team.
Since then, there have been rumours that Daniels does not want to play in Washington, and Las Vegas sports books have even modified the odds to favour Maye being selected by the Commanders rather than Daniels.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler revealed on Saturday, ahead of the NFL Draft, why rumours about Jayden Daniels’ reluctance to join the Commanders may be true.
Fowler spoke on SportsCenter to go down a slew of NFL Draft hopefuls, including some intriguing information about the long-held consensus pick at No. 2.
“There’s a lot of interest in Jayden Daniels, and why not? He’s a Heisman winner, but there are some issues regarding Daniels’ enthusiasm in attending Washington. “What can you tell us on that front?” Fowler was asked while on SC.
He agreed that you can’t rule out the idea that Daniels doesn’t want to travel to Washington, even if most people still believe he will be selected there.
“Well, there is a little bit of smoke there,” Fowler explained. “So, individuals I speak with from the Commanders and other clubs believe Daniels is the favourite to be the No. 2 pick. Nothing is set in stone, of course; this is only a draft. But I’m speaking with someone close to Daniels, who feels he has openly considered his alternatives.
Daniels has other teams in mind, but in the NFL Draft, it’s difficult to see how he can avoid the top three teams, barring a trade, according to Fowler.
“He has had interest in playing for the Raiders, who pick 13th and probably can’t get high enough to pick him.”
To summarize the talk, Jeremy Fowler stated that he is ultimately unsure what is going on in Jayden Daniels’ thoughts, but he does not 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 Expresses Desire to Play For Washington Commanders.
On Sunday night, Daniels appeared as a guest on Shannon Sharpe and Chad Ochocinco’s “Night Caps” podcast, when he was initially asked about rejoining with Antonio Pierce, the defensive coordinator when he played for Arizona, with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Daniels almost instantly dismissed that suggestion.
“I don’t know how they would pull that off, it’s above my pay grade,” Daniels went on to say. “I’m not saying I want to go to the Raiders, I want to go to whatever team wants me.”
Ochocinco then brought up Daniels’ supporting cast at LSU, particularly wide receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Johnson.
The Washington Commanders are No. 2, and I believe you are No. 2. Period.” Ochocinco explained. “Look at the supporting cast you would have in D.C.”
“Oh, they got some dogs over there,” Daniels replied, grinning.
Ochocinco then listed wide receivers Terry McClaurin and Jahan Dotson, telling Daniels he’ll be in “heaven,” before the former Heisman champion burst into laughter.
Daniels didn’t appear or sound like a player who didn’t want to play for the Washington Commanders. On Thursday, all of the questions will be finally answered.
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