Commanders news: Jayden Daniels, Bobby Wagner, free agency and OT target

Commanders focused on Jayden Daniels?

After the Washington Commanders signed veteran Marcus Mariota and traded Sam Howell to the Seattle Seahawks, it confirmed what many have predicted for months. Adam Peters and his team will be selecting a quarterback at No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. Which one the general manager will bring to the organization remains to be seen.

Drake Maye is the favorite of many thanks to his high ceiling, although expecting him to start right away might be pushing things. There is also growing momentum around LSU prospect Jayden Daniels thanks to his scheme fit within Kliff Kingsbury's system and the signal-caller's Heisman Trophy-winning campaign in 2023.

Daniels is now the leading contender according to sportsbooks to be the Commanders' next franchise quarterback. Mike Fisher from Sports Illustrated stated that Washington could also be honing in on the dual-threat weapon, although nothing has been confirmed one way or another as yet.

"We keep hearing that the Washington Commanders, valuing "mobility'' among other things in a modern-day QB, are "focusing'' on LSU star Jayden Smith with the No. 2 pick in the April NFL Draft. And as it happens, that matches the view of our friend Benjamin Allbright, the Denver-based NFL analyst who over the years has a very good track record when predicting how the early picks in a draft will unfold. Allbright has the Commanders selecting LSU star Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 pick. … and in the wake of Washington's trade-away of Sam Howell to the Seahawks, that fits what we're hearing."

- Mike Fisher, Sports Illustrated

This decision will be franchise-altering for good or bad. But unlike previous moves at football's most pivotal position, fans can relax safe in the knowledge Peters is a shrewd talent evaluator with proven credentials.