NFL execs reveal which QB the Washington Commanders will likely draft No. 2 overall

Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

The Washington Commanders have been linked to three different quarterbacks ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft in attention to being floated in NFL rumors as a trade-down candidate. With draft day approaching, however, there is some belief around the league over who the Commanders will draft in 2024.

Washington would’ve loved to draft quarterback Caleb Williams, a Washington, D.C. native who is widely viewed as the best player in the 2024 NFL Draft. However, the Chicago Bears are locked in on him picking him and never had any interest in moving down the board.

While Chicago isn’t a trade-down candidate, Washington has let it be known publicly that it is willing to move down. Recent NFL news, however, suggests that option is likely off the table. With Washington presumably keeping the second overall pick, the choice then comes down to quarterbacks.

Throughout the entire 2023 college football season, North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye was widely viewed as the second-best passer in the upcoming class and a franchise-caliber talent. However, a down year with a struggling Tar Heels football program opened the door for his peers around the country.

LSU Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels became the breakout player in 2023, winning the Heisman Trophy and emerging as one of the highest-rated options in 2024 NFL Draft quarterback rankings. Meanwhile, Michigan Wolverines signal-caller J.J. McCarthy’s stock started rising as he and his team celebrated winning the national title and the pre-draft process has pushed him into the projected top 10 picks.

Which quarterback will the Commanders draft?

Amid a variety of NFL Draft rumors suggesting at various points that McCarthy, Maye and Daniels are each a strong candidate to be drafted second overall, there’s a slightly better feel within the league.

Jeff Howe of The Athletic polled five different NFL executives on who they believe the Commanders will draft No. 2 overall. Of that group, three picked Daniels and two picked Maye while a lone executive believed McCarthy would be Washington’s quarterback.

Notably, per Howe, McCarthy reportedly had the strongest Pro Day performance of the three quarterbacks with one executive noting the Wolverines’ quarterback “killed his workout” in March. However, Daniels is still the favorite around the NFL and if he isn’t the choice the belief is it will be Maye. One thing is clear, the new-look Commanders’ front office is keeping its preference in-house with clarity not coming until April 25.