The Washington Commanders hold the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, and many believe that the franchise will take LSU’s Jayden Daniels.
Caleb Williams is the consensus No. 1 overall pick and is for all likelihood headed to the Chicago Bears. But ESPN’s Louis Riddick thinks there is a better quarterback prospect than Williams.
In a segment called Prospects I love for ESPN, Riddick details what makes Daniels so dangerous and called him the best quarterback in the draft.
“He’s a guy who can throw it short, intermediate, deep and he can fire it with velocity or put touch on it and layer it on the second level, “>Riddick said. “What really separates him is outside of structure, outside of the pocket, he can get there as both a passer and runner. Meaning he can throw on the run or if he decides to tuck it down, he’s out the gate. He can take it 80 yards in the blink of an eye which makes him the ultimate weapon at the quarterback position and why I consider him to be the best quarterback in this draft and the guy who deserves to come off the board first overall.”
The Heisman trophy winner threw for 3,812 yards, 40 touchdowns and just four interceptions while completing 72.2 percent of his passes in his 12 games. That makes for good reading but Daniels’ threat on the ground makes him as Riddick says the “ultimate” weapon.
Jan 1, 2024; Tampa, FL, USA; LSU Tigers quarterbacks Garrett Nussmeier, left, and Jayden Daniels (5)
Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports
Daniels had 135 rushing attempts and totaled 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns while averaging an eye-watering 8.4 yards a carry. That’ll work.
The Commanders have done a good job in free agency of putting the right pieces around their incumbent quarterback. If that is Daniels, then the LSU star will have a solid running back tandem in Austin Ekeler and Brian Robinson Jr. to complement his own running ability.
He will also have outside weapons in Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson (maybe another via the draft) and tight ends Zach Ertz and Logan Thomas. Not to mention a good offensive mind in Kliff Kingsbury to bring it all together.
Williams for some is the bonafide No.1 pick, but for Riddick, who was a former player and a director of pro personnel for two NFL teams, Daniels is the best quarterback in the draft.
And it looks like he has a decent chance to be the face of the Commanders franchise and will lead it into a new and exciting era.
