While the NFL Draft buzz around Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy appears to be gaining traction, there are reasons to exercise caution regarding the possibility of the Washington Commanders selecting him with the second overall pick over LSU Tigers signal-caller Jayden Daniels.
Initially, speculation had linked the Commanders with Daniels, especially with the Chicago Bears widely expected to snag USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams with the draft’s top pick on April 25.
However, recent remarks from draft expert Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network have turned heads.
Jeremiah reported that “executives for other teams who know” Commanders general manager Adam Peters suggest that Peters might opt for McCarthy over Daniels.
Adding fuel to the speculation, NFL insider Jeff Howe of The Athletic hinted during a recent episode of the “Eye On Foxborough” podcast that the Commanders could indeed pull off a surprise move by selecting McCarthy as the draft’s second overall pick.
If such a scenario were to unfold, it would leave the New England Patriots with an interesting decision at the third spot, where they could choose between Daniels or North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye.
Despite all of the hype surrounding the Washington Commanders potentially selecting McCarthy, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter spoke strongly that Daniels is expected to be the pick.
“I know we’re not supposed to spoil picks, and we’ll see how the Commanders decide to move forward with the No. 2 overall selection. I think the signs continue to point to Jayden Daniels being the second overall pick. Seems like he’s popular in the scouting community, seems like he’d bring a lot of the attributes that the Commanders would like.”
Notably, both Brian Kelly and Herm Edwards, who coached Daniels in college, foresee the quarterback landing with Washington come draft day. However, the fluidity of the draft process means that surprises are always on the table, keeping fans and analysts alike on their toes leading up to the final Thursday of April.
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