The Washington Commanders seemed to hone in on quarterback Jayden Daniels from a long way out. Adam Peters acknowledged as much once he took the dynamic signal-caller at No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, ending months of speculation and hearsay about which direction the franchise would go.
Contrary to what some in the national media tried to spin, Daniels seems thrilled to be Washington's new face of the franchise. There is a lot of hard work ahead, but the Heisman Trophy winner out of LSU is eager to embrace the grind and start repaying the faith shown in him by Peters.
Daniels has the elite intangibles normally associated with productive modern-day quarterbacks. He's a nightmare for opposing defenses to scheme against thanks to his prolific distribution from the pocket and ability to conjure magic on the ground. The Commanders believe there is more to come from the player, which is a scary proposition and one that could benefit the organization considerably.
The Commanders have their new quarterback, but there are many other complications to resolve. Washington resisted the urge to trade back into the first round for one of the top offensive tackle prospects, which immediately became their biggest priority. There's also a need to solidify some defensive positions and improve the weapons around Daniels. Fortunately for Peters, he has no fewer than five selections at his disposal over the second and third rounds.
Using the Pro Football Network simulator, we took a look at how the Commanders might approach their Day 2 selections in this special mock draft. This begins with Peters going back to one of his old employers in pursuit of a trade that would undoubtedly send shockwaves through the entire league.
This would also reunite Daniels with one of his closest friends. Someone he leans on for advice and formed a prolific partnership with during their time together at Arizona State. Brandon Aiyuk.
Commanders trade for Brandon Aiyuk
It's no secret that Jayden Daniels and Brandon Aiyuk are extremely close. The pair formed an almost unbreakable bond during their time as teammates at Arizona State. It remains strong to this day, with the wide receiver even appearing on the quarterback's Instagram Live after he'd been taken by the Washington Commanders at No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Aiyuk is currently at loggerheads with the San Francisco 49ers regarding a new deal. He wants to be paid in keeping with some of the league's best pass-catchers - which he is more than deserving of looking at his recent production. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be much money to go around with John Lynch having one eye on the upcoming contract extension for quarterback Brock Purdy in 2025.
Reports surfaced about the Niners looking to move Aiyuk and potentially Deebo Samuel in pursuit of surging up in the first round. That didn't come to fruition, but the pot was stirred further when San Francisco drafted wide receiver Ricky Pearsall out of Florida with the No. 31 overall selection.
This only increased speculation about Aiyuk potentially being moved. Time is on the Commanders' side with a full day to potentially engineer a trade if Peters thinks it can help Daniels thrive on and off the field. He's also strongly linked to Lynch after recently leaving the Niners for Washington. This should enable negotiations to go smoothly if a call is made.
The Commanders give up the No. 36 overall selection to secure Aiyuk's services in this scenario. They'd need to sort out a contract extension almost immediately, but the financial means seem to be there looking at the youth across the roster currently.
Washington would have plenty of cash tied up in its wideout room if Aiyuk came into the fold. That said, adding him to a unit that also consists of Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson comes with limitless potential attached.
Commanders draft Patrick Paul
- Offensive Tackle | Houston Cougars
- Round No. 2 | No. 40 overall
Now that the Washington Commanders have their franchise quarterback in Jayden Daniels, they need to find an offensive tackle capable of providing the protection needed. Speculation was rife about Adam Peters potentially going back into the first round for one of their desired targets. But once the Cincinnati Bengals took Amarius Mims at No. 18 and Tyler Guyton went to the Dallas Cowboys, it seemed as if the door had closed despite his best efforts.
Plenty of gifted edge protectors went in the first round, which was expected. The Commanders will have to make do with those remaining. It would also be wise if Peters addressed this critical need with one of his early second-round selections.
Although seen as a long shot of sorts before the draft, unfolding events on Day 1 put Patrick Paul firmly under the microscope. This is a player who's no stranger to the Commanders. His brother Chris Paul is a backup interior offensive lineman with the team currently, so the transition should go off without a hitch.
At least on the face of things, Patrick seems a lot more talented than Chris. His college production at Houston was nothing short of outstanding, which was matched by an exceptional display of athletic prowess against other draft hopefuls at the 2024 Senior Bowl.
Paul possesses outstanding length and athleticism, making him a significant asset in pass protection. He's got eye-catching agility for someone his size, which is matched by an explosive punch to the point of attack and fluid movements to keep opposing edge rushers out of opposing backfields.
There is some work ahead for Paul in terms of run-blocking consistency. His hand placement also needs some refinement, but the scope for improvement is high once he acclimatizes to his new surroundings and receives professional coaching from the Commanders' improved staff in this scenario.
Commanders draft D.J. James
- Cornerback | Auburn Tigers
- Round No. 3 | No. 67 overall
The Washington Commanders must also focus on the defensive side of things at some stage on Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft. Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr.'s presence in the war room will likely dictate as much. There are also a couple of glaring holes that must be addressed as a matter of urgency looking at how the depth chart looks right now.
One of these is the cornerback spot. The Commanders have serious questions to answer after Kendall Fuller left for the Miami Dolphins in free agency. Michael Davis should help as a situational presence, but going into the campaign with Emmanuel Forbes and Benjamin St-Juste as the outside coverage tandem represents a gamble of epic proportions.
There are still some enticing options available. The likes of Kool-Aid McKinstry and Cooper DeJean fell out of the first round, but it's highly unlikely they're going to last much longer looking at their respective talent levels. If the Commanders opt to wait until the third round, someone like D.J. James looks like decent value.
James put together a fantastic college career at Auburn and seems to be ascending at the right time. His capabilities in coverage are sensational more often than not, displaying the agility and football nuance to mirror opposing wide receivers at all three levels of the field with minimal fuss. The prospect's ball skills are opportunistic, making him a turnover threat when opportunities present themselves.
Once the player adds a little extra muscle mass and learns to be less aggressive in coverage, it's all systems go. James also looks like the sort of player Quinn and Whitt - two notorious defensive back developers - have had success with previously. With a smooth transition, there's nothing to suggest he couldn't play a key rotational role before emerging as a starting-caliber option during his rookie season.
Commanders draft Marshawn Kneeland
- Edge Rusher | Western Michigan Broncos
- Round No. 3 | Pick No. 78
Even though it wouldn't be classed as the need it was before free agency, adding another explosive young edge rusher could enter the Washington Comanders' train of thought during Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft. They've plugged the gap left by the Montez Sweat and Chase Young trades in the short term. But out of all the options acquired in this key position group when the free-agent frenzy commenced, only Dorance Armstrong comes with a longer-term upside.
No team can ever have enough quality pass-rushers. It's an area that's lacked depth in recent seasons in Washington, which became exposed glaringly once those in power took the tough decision to part ways with their starting defensive end tandem. Having two legitimate pass-rushing forces at the defensive second level - Jamin Davis and Frankie Luvu - should help, but Marshawn Kneeland might be an option to consider midway through the third round if it makes it this far.
Kneeland has an NFL-ready frame that allows him to set the edge on running downs with supreme efficiency. His motor is absolutely off the charts, which would endear him to head coach Dan Quinn given the high demands he places on every defensive player at his disposal.
As a pass-rusher, the Western Michigan prospect relies heavily on power moves to get the job done. His bull rush overwhelmed almost everyone at the collegiate level, although that won't be nearly as easy once Kneelend comes up against more physically dominant offensive linemen in the pros.
His remarkable agility was reflected in the player's outstanding three-cone drill and shuttle tests during the pre-draft process. He's a little raw in terms of boasting the pass-rushing arsenal needed to become a starting force at the next level. But in this scenario, there wouldn't be any immediate pressure on him to play anything more than a rotational role thanks to the presence of Armstrong, ante Fowler Jr., Clelin Ferrell, and K.J. Henry.
Commanders draft Kiran Amegadjie
- Offensive Tackle | Yale Bulldogs
- Round No. 3 | No. 100 overall
As previously mentioned, the Washington Commanders must find some edge protectors for their new franchise quarterback on Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft. Jayden Daniels is the prized possession taken at No. 2 overall, so keeping him upright is the only way this substantial investment is going to pay dividends.
Daniels cannot maximize the exceptional skill set at his disposal without adequate protection. His pocket awareness and explosive mobility can cover up some potential flaws - as discussed by C.J. Stroud once the pick was made - but not all of them. Even though the Commanders took Patrick Paul with the pick acquired from the Montez Sweat trade, don't be surprised if they double dip.
This bears more significance when one considers Andrew Wylie's struggles at times during his first season in the nation's capital. Asking a late third-round prospect to start right away would be foolish, but Kiran Amegadjie boasts the athletic intangibles needed to become a potential edge option much sooner than expected.
The former two-star high school recruit clawed his way into Day 2 consideration thanks to perseverance, exceptional college production, and supreme athletic traits. Amegadjie is intelligent and explosive in equal measure, making him an asset in pass protection with room to develop further. His fluid hips and powerful core base provide a dependable seal for either edge rushers or interior moves - traits that almost every NFL team covets.
Amegadjie is a little raw technically and struggles to counteract when leverage is lost. There are also some concerns about the standard of college competition he faced at Yale. This is a steep step up in class for the prospect, but he could be the sort of rough diamond that Washington's coaching staff can mold into a key contributor over time.
Wylie's presence and Cornelius Lucas should decrease any urgency to get Amegadjie on the field. It's a gamble, but the rewards would be substantial if he puts everything together.