sport news Jayden Daniels is selected by Commanders with second pick at the 2024 NFL Draft ... trends now
The Washington Commanders hope to have finally solved their decades-long riddle at quarterback by taking Heisman winner and former LSU star Jayden Daniels with the second pick of Thursday's NFL Draft in Detroit.
USC quarterback Caleb Williams had long been considered a lock to the Chicago Bears with the first-overall pick. It was the second pick, where Washington was looking to replace failed starter Sam Howell after a 4-13 season, that had the experts split.
Commanders general manager Adam Peters ultimately picked Williams over North Carolina's Drake Maye and Michigan's J.J. McCarthy, both of whom were invited on a recent TopGolf outing with Daniels by team personnel.
Reports that Daniels' agent, Ron Butler, wasn't pleased with the visit led to his client answering questions about it 33 hours before the Commanders are on the clock.
Daniels spent the ensuing days diffusing speculation that he was hoping to avoid Washington – a team that's suffered through around 30 starting quarterbacks this millennium.
Jayden Daniels poses with Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected second overal
Daniels won the Heisman Trophy last year and will hope to be a solution for the Commanders
Daniels won a Heisman Trophy at LSU and now he's off to Washington with the No. 2 pick
'I just had fun with the other guys just being able to interact with people throughout the process. It was cool,' Daniels said of Topgolf, adding that he's not a golfer but is starting to learn the sport.
Teams typically want to maximize their time with a player ahead of the draft so Washington faced criticism for its decision to host a group visit.
Daniels downplayed having any issues with it.
'I spent quite some time with them,' Daniels said. 'Obviously, Zoom meetings prior and the combine and when I got up there I spent some time with them, but I had other places to go, so I had to catch a flight but overall just a good visit.'
New Commanders coach Dan Quinn hired former Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury to be the offensive coordinator. Kingsbury had some success with dual-threat QB Kyler Murray in Arizona and previously with Patrick Mahomes and Johnny Manziel in college.
'Obviously, his track record with mobile quarterbacks speaks for itself,' Daniels said. 'I've been familiar with Kliff.'
In addition to winning the Heisman, Daniels was also the Associated Press Player of
