The Washington Commanders had an opportunity to interview the best quarterbacks in the 2024 draft class at the NFL Combine. While Pro Days are still ahead, there appears to be an early favorite to become the Commanders starting quarterback in 2024.
Washington has been heavily connected to USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams, the consensus top prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft. While Williams, a native of Washington D.C. could theoretically be available, most around the league expect the Chicago Bears to pick him with the first overall pick.
Related: 2024 NFL Draft quarterback rankings
Barring a trade-up with Chicago, which would cost Washington the second overall pick and a 2025 first-round pick at a minimum, Williams likely won’t be available. As a result, first-year general manager Adam Peters is left with the choice between Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels, national champion J.J. McCarthy and North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye.
Neither Daniels nor Maye participated in drills at the NFL Combine, with the LSU Tigers quarterback not even taking part in measurements. As for McCarthy, the Michigan Wolverines signal-caller was inconsistent in throwing drills, elevating concerns coming into the pre-draft process.
Related: NFL power rankings 2024, see where Washington Commanders land
Washington privately interviewed all three quarterback prospects likely to be on the board at No. 2 overall, with team owner Josh Harris sitting in on the interviews. As of now, there seems to be an early leader in the clubhouse for the team.
According to Jeff Howe of The Athletic, the Commanders are high on Maye and the Tar Heels quarterback “should remain the favorite” to be taken with the second overall pick.
Related: Washington Commanders mock draft 2024
- Drake Maye stats (career); 8,018 passing yards, 154.1 QB rating, 63-16 TD-INT, 64.9% completion rate, 8.4 yards per attempt, 1,209 rushing yards, 16 rushing touchdowns
There was a little buzz during the NFL Combine that McCarthy might be Washington’s choice, but a mediocre passing performance in combination with concerns regarding his upside makes that unlikely. As for Daniels, he is largely viewed by consensus rankings as the third-best quarterback prospect.
Maye isn’t as polished as a passer as Williams, but he does offer franchise-caliber tools and has drawn NFL comparisons to Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert. Maye would also fit nicely in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense and with a receiving corps led by Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson, he would be well-positioned for success with the Commanders.
