A new rumor swirling around the NFL owner meetings about the Washington Commanders NFL Draft plans could have a massive effect on the New York Giants possibly landing the player they want in Round 1.
As we close in on April, much of the notable NFL free agency news is in the rearview, and much of the focus is now on the 2024 NFL Draft. After the Chicago Bears likely select USC’s Caleb Williams with the top overall pick, there has been a lot of speculation about what comes next when the Commanders are on the clock at No. 2.
- JJ McCarthy stats (2023): 2,991 passing yards, 22 TDs, 4 INTs, 167.4 passer rating
Also Read: Washington Commanders could go in surprising direction with No. 2 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
The assumption for months has been they would either select Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels or North Carolina star Drake Maye since both are seen as the next-best quarterbacks in this draft class. However, on Monday NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero reported the word around the owner meetings is that Michigan’s JJ McCarthy is the preferred choice for new Washington general manager Adam Peters.
That is huge news for the New York Giants and what they hoped to do with their pick at six in Round 1 of next month’s event
Could Jayden Daniels fall to New York Giants at sixth pick?
McCarthy ending up in the top three of the NFL Draft would be a huge shakeup that has major ramifications for Big Blue. Over the last month, there have been rumors the team would like to trade up in Round 1 to land either Daniels or Maye.
However, all indications are that both will be off the board when the Commanders and Patriots make their picks at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively. But if McCarthy is selected by Washington at No. 2 instead, it could mean Maye or Daniels fall to the G-Men at six since the Cardinals (No. 4) and Chargers (No. 5) are not expected to take a QB in Round 1.
Jayden Daniel stats (2023): 3,812 passing yards, 40 TDs, 4 INTs, 208.0 passer rating
Also Read: 2024 NFL Mock Draft – What will the New York Giants do in Round 1
Last week it was reported that the Giants could take McCarthy with their top pick but he would be their plan B because rumblings from inside the organization suggest that Daniels is actually the player they want in this year’s draft class. Daniels would seem like a perfect fit for head coach Brian Daboll and his system that thrives with a QB with high-level scrambling skills.