Assessing whether Commanders should draft Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye

Considering all signs point to the Chicago Bears selecting USC quarterback Caleb Williams first overall, the 2024 NFL Draft (April 25-27) really begins with the Washington Commanders' No. 2 pick.

After trading Sam Howell earlier this offseason, Washington is set to select a quarterback with its first-round pick. However, new Commanders GM Adam Peters is faced with a difficult decision as to whether LSU's Jayden Daniels or North Carolina's Drake Maye is the candidate worth risking the franchise's future on. 

Both prospects are immensely talented but offer vastly different skill sets, and each is worthy of the second overall pick. Let's assess the skills of each and offer a recommendation for the Commanders.

The case for Jayden Daniels

What ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. says: "Daniels has rare ability as a dual-threat playmaker. He can evade, elude and blow by defenders, but he also impressed with the way he can run through contact. But it's his improvement as a passer that has him looking like a Round 1 selection. Yes, having blue chip wideouts Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. to throw to was a huge benefit, but they also were fortunate to have a passer like Daniels with a big-time skill set directing the offense." 

What NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah says: "Daniels is a tall/lean quarterback with exceptional accuracy, decision-making and speed. He is very poised and comfortable in the pocket ... He throws with anticipation, touch and accuracy. He flashes the ability to manipulate safeties with his eyes to create separation downfield. When he gets pressured, he doesn’t hesitate to explode out of the pocket ... Overall, Daniels took a massive leap in 2023 and now offers both a high floor and ceiling."

OUR TAKE: Daniels, who showed flashes of high upside across his first three collegiate seasons at Arizona State, began to consistently perform at a high level after transferring to LSU in 2022. 

While his first season with the Tigers was respectable, Daniels broke out in 2023, leading the nation in total yards on offense (4,946), throwing for 40 TDs and rushing for 10 en route to winning the Heisman Trophy.

The 23-year-old has a strong argument to be considered the best deep-ball thrower in this year's draft, but his dynamic rushing ability sets him apart from the other top quarterback prospects. Daniels' 1,134 rushing yards last season were the most among all QBs in college football and his 8.4 yards per carry led the FBS.

Even so, overreliance on his legs has led Daniels into his share of trouble, resulting in him taking many big hits, which isn't ideal for someone with a slender, 210-pound frame. 

Nonetheless, it's impossible to discredit last season's exceptional production and ignore the fact that Daniels is an ideal fit for Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury's scheme.

The case for Drake Maye 

What Kiper says: "Maye had a fantastic debut season as the starter at UNC, throwing for 4,321 yards with 38 touchdowns and seven picks in 2022. He looks the part of a big-time NFL signal-caller. He can make every throw with ease. He's accurate on the move and can pick up first downs with his legs. Maye varies his pass speeds really well — he knows when to take a little off to make it easier for his receivers. He has outstanding touch on vertical throws."
 
What Jeremiah says: "Maye has prototypical size, athleticism and arm strength. He has quick feet and quick hands, but his delivery can get long at times. He’s a gifted thrower who drives the ball without much foot space in the pocket (including with defenders hanging on him) ... He is athletic to escape and create with his legs and he’s tough to tackle in space ... Overall, Maye has some things to clean up, but he has every ingredient to be a top-tier starter at the game's most important position."

OUR TAKE: Although the 6-foot-4, 223-pounder has the prototypical size and arm strength teams are looking for in a franchise quarterback, Maye is more of a project than Daniels.

In particular, Maye must improve his accuracy and footwork once he gets to the NFL as well as being able to work through his progressions more quickly.

Still, Maye is only 21 and led the ACC in passing yards in each of his two seasons as a starter despite having a rather lackluster supporting cast compared to his 2024 draft classmates. 

Additionally, Maye has the most big-time throws among all FBS quarterbacks over the past two seasons (79). For reference, Pro Football Focus defines a big-time throw as "a pass with excellent ball location and timing, generally thrown further down the field and/or into a tighter window." 

The comparisons to Josh Allen seem a bit overblown, though it wouldn't be surprising if Maye had a similar career trajectory as Buffalo's Pro Bowl quarterback. 

If a team lets Maye play through the mistakes he'll make early on and helps him correct his flaws, which appear to be fixable with proper coaching, his ceiling is as high as any quarterback prospect except Williams.  

VERDICT: Go with Drake Maye

Daniels is the best player among the two and will probably have a more impressive rookie season from a statistical standpoint, but Maye is a better long-term investment. 

Even though Maye regressed last season, losing Josh Downs — his top receiver from 2022 — to the NFL and having a new offensive coordinator definitely contributed to his decline. 

Yet, despite these factors, Maye was still more productive than Daniels was at 20 and 21.

As a player with skills that are more translatable to the NFL's style of play and a more durable frame, Maye should be Washington's pick.