By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Sports Writer
DETROIT — Jayden Daniels was not sure the Washington Commanders would call his name, after months of questions about which quarterback they wanted. He’s glad they did.
Washington selected Daniels with the second pick in the NFL draft on Thursday night, choosing the Heisman Trophy winner out of LSU over North Carolina’s Drake Maye, Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. and Michigan national champion J.J. McCarthy. Unlike Chicago leading off with USC QB Caleb Williams, as expected, the Commanders kept everyone, including the AP’s college football player of the year, in suspense until the last moment.
“They did a pretty good job of not showing their hand too much,” said Daniels, who starred at San Bernardino’s Cajon High. “But I was pretty confident based off the conversations that we had that I was able to come here and fit into the Commanders team. I’m here now. I can’t wait to get to work.”
Daniels had for quite some time been the favorite to go to the Commanders, though buzz over the past week put that in doubt after reports surfaced that he and his agent were not happy with the team hosting four QB prospects at once. Daniels, May, McCarthy and Penix all visited the practice facility and area together, including a group trip to Topgolf.
“Everybody had a great time and it was very beneficial to see everybody in a more relaxed environment,” General Manager Adam Peters said last week. “They all got a lot of time individually with their coaches, with us, where they were staggered coming in, too, so it wasn’t like they were sitting in a room together. They all had their own individual time with everybody, so, it worked out really well.”
Well enough to smooth over any issues and make Daniels the centerpiece of the Commanders’ rebuilding process and roster overhaul under Peters and an ownership group led by Josh Harris that has been in charge since August.
“Selecting a winner like Jayden Daniels will energize the players and our fan base!” co-owner and Lakers legend Magic Johnson posted on social media.
Short of Williams, a Washington-area native who would have been a no-brainer if the Bears passed on him for some reason, Daniels became the pick after leading the nation in total offense last season with 4,946 yards – 412.2 on average over 12 games. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound QB ranked fifth with 3,812 yards passing and with 40 touchdowns trailed just Oregon’s Bo Nix, who played in two extra games. He also ran for 10 more.
Daniels, 23, blossomed into a star over two seasons at LSU after transferring in 2022 following three years at Arizona State. He became an increasingly decisive pocket passer as his trust in receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. grew, and he became more adept at buying time by scrambling rather than giving up on plays and taking off running.
Nabers went three picks later to the NFC East-rival New York Giants at No. 5.
It’s unclear if Daniels will play right away, get the chance to compete for the starting job or sit and learn behind veteran Marcus Mariota, who is willing to be a mentor after signing a one-year deal in free agency. Whether it’s Daniels, Mariota or journeyman Jeff Driskel, Washington will have an eighth different Week 1 starting QB in as many seasons after trading Sam Howell to Seattle last month.
“I’m just coming in to compete,” Daniels said. “I’m going to come in and really just trying to play my role, whatever that is. I just want to be the best teammate to help the team win, and we can bring some victories back to Washington.”
Drafted second by Washington 12 years after the organization took Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III out of Baylor in the same spot, Daniels becomes the face of the Commanders under coach Dan Quinn and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.
Daniels cited Kingsbury’s work with Kyler Murray while coaching the Arizona Cardinals as one reason he is excited to play for him.
“The offensive staff, their track record speaks for itself,” Daniels said. “Kliff was over there with Kyler and what he did as a head coach, and for quite some time he had Kyler in the MVP conversation.”
Asked on ESPN after being drafted what the coaching staff can do to get the most from him, Daniels said: “Just believe in me. It’s going to be a grind. We’re going to work. I’m a hard worker, man, so I can’t wait.”
This is the fourth draft with quarterbacks going with the first three picks.
It matched 2021 (Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, Trey Lance), 1971 (Jim Plunkett, Archie Manning, Dan Pastorini) and 1999 (Tim Couch, Donovan McNabb, Akili Smith).
At No. 8, the Atlanta Falcons made a stunning decision to choose Penix despite signing Kirk Cousins to a massive contract in free agency. Penix made it four quarterbacks in the top 10 for just the second time since 1949. It also happened in 2018 (Baker Mayfield, USC’s Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, UCLA’s Josh Rosen).
The Arizona Cardinals snapped the trend, choosing Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. with the fourth pick. The Chargers opened the Jim Harbaugh era by taking Notre Dame left tackle Joe Alt instead of giving Justin Herbert a No. 1 wide receiver to replace Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.
The New York Giants then snatched up LSU receive Nabers at No. 6. The Tennessee Titans took Alabama offensive tackle J.C. Latham with the seventh pick and the Bears selected Washington wideout Rome Odunze at No. 9.
This will be the latest a first defensive player has been drafted since 1967.
Wearing a navy suit with silver accents, Williams swiftly walked on stage and screamed “Woooo! Yeah!” before giving Roger Goodell a bear hug, careful not to squeeze too hard because the NFL commissioner had back surgery three weeks ago.
Rap icon Eminem walked on stage in a Lions sweatshirt and cap shortly after Goodell to kick off the night. The Motor City native riled up the fans before turning it over to Lions stars Jared Goff, Aidan Hutchinson, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Hall of Famers Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson.
St. Brown led them in chanting “Jar-ed Goff!” and Johnson kept it short: “Whaddup doe?”
An estimated crowd of 150,000, many wearing their Honolulu blue Lions jerseys, filled the streets surrounding the draft theater and turned the NFL’s biggest offseason event into a giant party.
Williams is the third quarterback Chicago has selected in the first round in the past eight years. Mitch Trubisky, the No. 2 overall pick in 2017, lasted four seasons. Justin Fields, the 11th pick in 2021, was traded away for a conditional sixth-round pick after three seasons.
The 22-year-old Williams is tasked with turning the Bears into a winner after years of futility. Chicago has had just two winning seasons since its most recent playoff victory in the 2010 season.
Williams was the clear front-runner in a quarterback-rich draft that includes Daniels, Maye and J.J. McCarthy. The Bears didn’t meet with any other QBs and Williams didn’t visit any other teams.
He impressed his future team over dinner with several Bears players last month, showing them he’s more substance than Hollywood style.
“It was good for them to be able to go back to the (front office) and speak on how I am instead of all the stuff that everybody sees every day on me,” Williams said Wednesday.
Bears general manager Ryan Poles was convinced Williams was the right choice after receiving positive feedback from the veterans.
“He came across as a really good teammate, easy to talk to, down to earth,” Poles said this week. “We’ve talked through this process about the whole Hollywood thing. He’s all ball, wants to work, wants to get better, wants to win as a team. That’s the No. 1 thing for him on top of being successful. So I think the biggest thing is: Does he fit with our culture and what we’re trying to do? And all signs were that he does, so that’s a positive.”
Maye is the second QB the Patriots have selected in the first round since Tom Brady left the team after the 2019 season. Mac Jones didn’t work out and now it’s Maye’s turn to be the man in a new era that starts without Bill Belichick.
Harrison, the son of Hall of Fame receiver Marvin Harrison, caught 67 passes for 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns in his final season with the Buckeyes.
More to come on this story.
The players selected in the first round of the NFL draft Thursday night in Detroit.
1. Chicago Bears (via trade with Carolina) – Caleb Williams, QB, 6-foot-1, 214 pounds, USC.
Scouting report: Mahomes-esque traits with the instincts, mobility and arm talent to breakdown a defense even when it does everything right. The only questions are about playing within structure because the structure so often broke down at USC.
2. Washington Commanders – Jayden Daniels, QB, 6-3, 210, LSU
Scouting report: Accurate deep passer and explosive runner with a slender frame. He scrambles to run, not necessarily to create opportunities to pass.
3. New England Patriots – Drake Maye, QB, 6-4, 223, North Carolina
Scouting report: Size, arm strength and athleticism are ideal. Can make a variety of throws with accuracy, but can be erratic and reckless at times, trying too hard to be a playmaker.
4. Arizona Cardinals – Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, 6-3, 209, Ohio State
Scouting report: Precise route-runner with superb body control. Strong and explosive. Not elusive after the catch and blocking could use more consistent effort, but one of the most polished receiver prospects to enter the NFL in years.
5. Chargers – Joe Alt, OT, 6-8, 321, Notre Dame
Scouting report: Technically sound, huge and strong. Not an exceptional athlete, but the three-year starter’s worst-case scenario seems to be solid NFL starter.
6. New York Giants – Malik Nabers, WR, 6-2, 199, LSU
Scouting report: Smooth deep threat with breakaway acceleration was LSU’s career leader in receiving yards and receptions. Will be challenged to play with more power at the next level.
7. Tennessee Titans – JC Latham, OT, 6-5, 342, Alabama
Scouting report: Massive and dominant run blocking right tackle who at times struggled to recognize blitzes and recover.
8. Atlanta Falcons – Michael Penix Jr., QB, 6-2, 216, Washington
Scouting report: Prolific left-handed passer with accuracy and arm strength to attack the whole field. His injury history (knee and shoulders), age (24) and questions about his ability deliver consistently when pressured made him a polarizing prospect.
9. Chicago Bears – Rome Odunze, WR, 6-2, 212, Washington
Scouting report: Exceptional ball skills and reliable hands. Not quite as explosive as Harrison and Nabers but Penix’s top target was probably more consistent.
10. Minnesota Vikings (via trade with New York Jets) – J.J. McCarthy, QB, 6-2, 219, Michigan
Scouting report: A difficult prospect to evaluate. Has all the physical tools plus scores well on intangibles such as leadership and maturity, but Michigan’s run-heavy scheme did not ask much of him compared to other top quarterbacks.
11. New York Jets (via trade with Minnesota) – Olu Fashanu, OT, 6-6, 312, Penn State
Scouting report: Checks all the boxes for size, athleticism and character. Was not as consistently dominant as tools suggest he should have been, but he’s also a relatively young (turns 22 in December) and inexperienced player (started playing in high school) for someone who spent four years in college.
12. Denver Broncos – Bo Nix, QB, 6-2, 215, Oregon
Scouting report: One of the most experienced quarterbacks to ever come out of college with a record 61 career starts. The 24-year-old Auburn transfer has good mobility and solid arm strength, but misses some makeable downfield throws. Has he already peaked?
13. Las Vegas Raiders – Brock Bowers, TE, 6-3, 243, Georgia
Scouting report: Elite athlete, with excellent hands and the speed and toughness to turn routine plays into huge gains after the catch. In today’s NFL, he’s a bit undersized, which could limit how he’s used as a blocker.
14. New Orleans Saints – Taliese Fuaga, OT, 6-5, 324, Oregon State
Scouting report: Powerful run blocker who plays with excellent balance. There is some concern his average athleticism and wingspan could push him to guard.
15. Indianapolis Colts – Laiatu Latu, DE, 6-4, 259, UCLA
Scouting report: Skilled and technically proficient pass rusher with good size. Neither his burst nor power are elite, but the whole package works. A neck injury forced him to medically retire in 2020 at Washington, but transferred to UCLA and became a star.
16. Seattle Seahawks
17. Jacksonville Jaguars
18. Cincinnati Bengals
19. Rams
20. Pittsburgh Steelers
21. Miami Dolphins
22. Philadelphia Eagles
23. Minnesota Vikings (from Cleveland via Houston)
24. Dallas Cowboys
25. Green Bay Packers
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
27. Arizona Cardinals (from Houston)
28. Buffalo Bills
29. Detroit Lions
30. Baltimore Ravens
31. San Francisco 49ers
32. Kansas City Chiefs