Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye are both heavily in the mix to be selected No. 2 overall by the Washington Commanders in next week’s NFL Draft.
While Maye began the 2023 season as a contender to go in the top 2, Daniels’ surge into this range has been a bit more surprising. His domination of SEC defenses in 2023 has clearly caught the attention of NFL front offices — and specifically the decision-makers in Washington.
Daniels’ Heisman Trophy campaign and impressive pre-draft circuit have made him the favorite to go No. 2 overall to the Commanders. He’s been listed as high as -330 to go in that slot this week, depending on the book.
However, Maye’s draft stock appears to be surging as the draft draws closer. According to the latest odds from DraftKings, Daniels is now just -160 to go No. 2 overall while Maye has climbed up to +120. Maye was +270 to go in that spot on Wednesday.
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By all accounts, Washington’s brain trust has done a good job of keeping their preferences close to the vest as they evaluate both Maye and Daniels at No. 2 overall. Here’s what The Athletic’s Dane Brugler wrote about this situation in his latest mock draft on Wednesday:
“The draft winds will continue to swirl in unpredictable directions up until draft night. Right now, though, the buzz is pointing towards Daniels being the pick at No. 2. Truth is, new Washington general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn aren’t tipping their hands, so everyone is still guessing at this point.”
Whoever doesn’t go at No. 2 to Washington will presumably be drafted one pick later by the New England Patriots. The Pats moved on from Mac Jones this offseason and are now looking for a longterm face of the franchise at quarterback.
Maye is currently the slight favorite at -135 to go No. 3 overall while Daniels sits at +150. However, Michigan’s JJ McCarthy is also in the mix at this pick — he’s listed at +275 per DraftKings.
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According to the latest intel from NFL Network’s Peter Schrager, New England isn’t expected to trade out of the No. 3 pick. Schrager’s intel suggests New England would be happy with either Daniels or Maye at their current pick.
“From what I’ve heard, the Patriots are very, very into both Maye and Daniels,” Schrager said on the Pat McAfee show on Thursday. “So whatever Washington does at 2, or if a team trades up for 2, I think the Patriots [will go with a] quarterback at 3.”
USC’s Caleb Williams is the prohibitive favorite (-20000) to go No. 1 overall to the Chicago Bears.
The 2024 NFL Draft will begin 1 week from today on Thursday, April 25.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
