Commanders 7-round 2024 NFL mock draft: Filling needs edition

Commanders draft Jayden Daniels

• Quarterback | LSU Tigers
• No. 36 overall

These are the idiosyncrasies of the Pro Football Network draft tool. Two months ago, I was routinely getting Jayden Daniels in the third round. I would take him every time.

His stock has continued to rise throughout the season. His recent Heisman Trophy win will only elevate his profile. In the run-ups to this mock, he was always off the board by the Commanders' second pick. But then, lo and behold, Daniels was sitting there in this one.

I am increasingly convinced that the Washington Commanders will take a quarterback in one of the first three rounds. I don’t mean that as a knock on Sam Howell, but I suppose it is on some level.

I still believe Howell can be a very good quarterback for Washington. But the position is so vital to a team’s success that you have to double down until you are certain you have your man.

Some prefer the size of Drake Maye, the accuracy of Bo Nix, or the play-making skill of Caleb Williams. To me, Daniels offers the best of it all.

He can do everything you want a modern quarterback to do. Daniels has good size, good mobility, and a good arm. He had a spectacular final season at LSU, but it wasn’t as if that came out of nowhere. He had been very good both before and after the COVID years.

Daniels is already a dynamic playmaker, and he is trending up.

Others to consider: Michael Penix Jr., Taliese Fuaga, J.T. Tuimoloau.