Getty Image / Michael Hickey
The Washington Commanders will almost certainly be using the second-overall pick in the NFL Draft next Thursday night to take a quarterback. But, it appears that one of the top quarterbacks in the draft, LSU’s Jayden Daniels, may have soured on the team.
The Commanders decided to bring three of the top quarterback prospects in UNC’s Drake Maye, Michigan’s JJ McCarthy, and Daniels in for meetings at the same time this week. That, on its surface, seems to make no sense. And, it appears that it may have backfired on the team.
ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter reported that Jayden Daniels was less than enthused with the odd meeting structure in Washington.
Schefter on Jayden Daniels visit with WAS "It didn't seem to go over too well with his agent who sounded off on social media that he didn't seem particularly pleased with the process. Daniels thought it would be a visit for just him, but WAS essentially opened up the process." pic.twitter.com/Y69c7pFcUN
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) April 19, 2024
The idea to do this came from new general manager Adam Peters. According to CBS Sports, Peters was familiar with similar visit structures in San Francisco. And, on some level it makes sense to bring in huge groups of players all at once to see how players interact with their peers.
But, doing it for quarterbacks seems to be a bad move, in my opinion. First off, a quarterback picked second overall deserves the scrutiny and attention of a visit all to themselves. You’re literally betting the franchise on this player, it’s not just another draft pick.
And, even if they did this in 2021 when they had the third-overall pick and took quarterback Trey Lance, that doesn’t prove that it was best practice. Trey Lance clearly did not work out in San Francisco, and is now with the Dallas Cowboys.
They’re likely to take the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner anyways. But, needless to say, it sounds like things aren’t off to the best start between the Washington Commanders and Jayden Daniels.