Commanders news: Jayden Daniels, Austin Ekeler, J.J. McCarthy and trading up

We made it.

It's officially 2024 NFL Draft week, which formally ends the speculation and fierce debates around which quarterback the Washington Commanders will select at No. 2 overall. This will come as sweet relief to most fans, many of whom have become weary of the process and the constant swirling of information - most of it misinformed and not coming from within the building.

Adam Peters stated that the Commanders are close to making their choice. They expect to reach an agreement early this week, although the team's long-suffering support might have to wait until the big reveal on Thursday before receiving confirmation.

While we wait for further developments, the stories causing conversation include late support for J.J. McCarthy, running back Austin Ekeler on the potential addition of a new quarterback, league sources believing the pick will be Jayden Daniels and the prospect of trading back into the first round.

Let's delve into each topic in more detail.

Late support for J.J. McCarthy

The Washington Commanders have kept all options on the table and Adam Peters is refusing to rule any of the potential candidates out of the running. He all but conceded that they are happy to stay at No. 2 overall and not entertain any trade-down offers. Which signal-caller will be the guy remains a mystery, for a few more days at least.

One prospect who's gained eye-catching support among sportsbooks in recent days is J.J. McCarthy. While Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye remain ahead of him in the pecking order, the Michigan product isn't without his fans despite being part of a run-first offense on the college football national champions.

This confirms one thing above all else - nobody has the first clue what Peters and his staff are thinking. The Commanders have run a tight ship this offseason with no leaks emerging from the organization. It's a far cry from the shoddy football operation under Dan Snyder - something that represents a breath of fresh air as Washington embarks on an exciting new era.

McCarthy cannot be dismissed entirely, but it's also worth remembering that similar momentum came the way of Will Levis in the days before the 2023 NFL Draft. He fell out of the first round entirely, so take everything with a pinch of salt until further notice.

Austin Ekeler on Commanders QB choice

Whichever quarterback the Washington Commanders take at No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, they are going to have a strong support system in place. This bears more significance alongside them in the backfield, with Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler representing a productive tandem capable of becoming impactful within Kliff Kingsbury's offensive scheme.

Ekeler signed a two-year deal that looks pretty cost-effective providing there's no dramatic drop-off in production. He won't be the bell cow we saw with the Los Angeles Charges, but his ability to impact the passing game and red-zone efficiency should be highly advantageous for Washington's new rookie signal-caller to call upon.

When discussing the Commanders' franchise-altering decision, Ekeler sat on the fence. The player admitted he'd not done a lot of research on the candidates in contention. But when the time comes, he'll welcome him with open arms.

"Heck, no. I ain't got time to do the homework. That's not my job, that's not my job. I'll leave that to the administration to do that. Whoever we end up picking, if that's the route we choose to go, then I'll do some homework then. But until they give me that person's name, I ain't even worried about it."

This is the right way to go about it. Assessing these prospects is beyond Ekeler's pay grade. What the veteran can do is help him through an important transition, develop immediate chemistry with them in pursuit of hitting the ground running, and continue with his outstanding production since entering the league as an undrafted free agent out of Western Colorado.

Looking at Ekeler's skill set, he should be the quarterback's best friend in no time at all. But the most important thing above all else is that the Commanders find the right guy to take this franchise into a prosperous era of perennial contention.

League convinced Commanders will take Jayden Daniels

It's been a whirlwind week for Jayden Daniels. This is through no real fault of his own, but rather his representatives making a mountain out of a molehill regarding the Washington Commanders' decision to bring all four quarterback candidates in simultaneously for 30 visits.

This was blown out of all proportion and Daniels' agents called the Commanders to clear the air about the matter. Still, it's called into question whether the signal-caller is a good fit for Washington. Something that general manager Adam Peters and his team must decide with time of the essence.

Daniel Jeremiah from the NFL Network has tipped Drake Maye to the Commanders at No. 2 overall throughout the process. However, he recently stated that people around the league seem to be overwhelmingly convinced that Daniels will be the choice at No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft based on what he's hearing with just a few short days left until the big night.

"I've been connecting them to Drake Maye for a long time. I just felt like that fit there - I think about (coach Dann Quinn) going to a Super Bowl with (former Atlanta Falcons quarterback) Matt Ryan, and what Matt Ryan was coming out - strengths, weaknesses, and I thought it actually married up pretty well with Drake.

"So that had been my connection there. But in talking to coaches and executives around the league, they're overwhelmingly convinced around the league that this is Jayden Daniels, that this is going to be the pick there at No. 2."

Nobody knows for sure. At the same time, there is no smoke without fire.

Daniels is arguably the most pro-ready quarterback in this year's class with some electrifying traits that can transform the Commanders and get fans back into the stands quickly. If this ends up being the guy, fans should have complete trust Peters' comprehensive assessments can bear fruit.

Commanders trade-up speculation

Once the Washington Commanders select their quarterback at No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, the hard work isn't over. Adam Peters is loaded with six picks in the top 100 and nine in total. He'll also be aggressive without jeopardizing future capital. Many believe this could lead them into a trade back into the first round for a franchise left tackle to go alongside their new rookie signal-caller.

This was a topic brought up by Lance Zierlein from NFL.com. The draft analyst said he'd be surprised if the Commanders and Arizona Cardinals weren't already working the phones to get a second first-round pick. Something that would send shockwaves through the league.

"I'll be pretty shocked if either Arizona or Washington (or frankly both) aren't moving some of their enormous stockpiles of draft capital and making a move back into the first. I understand AZ has two picks in one, but I think it's likely they package another pick and upgrade 27."

This was a sentiment echoed by David Latham from Last Word on Sports. The writer speculated that the Commanders could package together their two second-round selections to surge up. It's a lot of compensation, but the rewards could be substantial if the player in question ends up becoming their blindside force for the next decade.

"Washington only has one first-round pick, but they have two second-round picks and three third-round selections. If they package both second-round picks, they can probably net a top-20 selection. The Seattle Seahawks will probably embrace a rebuild with first-year head coach Mike Macdonald, so they might be willing to give up the 16th-overall pick for the 36th and 40th picks in the draft. While this could happen, it’s a steep price to pay for a team with needs throughout the roster."

Peters will already have the lay of the land regarding potential trade partners. After that, it's a case of seeing how the board plays out and striking with conviction when an opportunity arises.

Buckle up.