After another disappointing season for the Washington Commanders, they now have the second overall pick in the draft, which they will claim on Apr. 25.
In the NFL draft, there are seven rounds with 32 picks each. The NFL draft is structured so that the team that performs the best in the previous season gets the last pick and the team that performs the worst gets the first pick. This allows struggling teams to rebuild quicker, encouraging a more balanced league.
The Commanders haven’t had a pick this high since the 2020 NFL draft where they picked Ohio State’s Chase Young. After starting hot, Young would go on to be a letdown during his time in Washington and was eventually traded to the 49ers and now plays for the Saints. That same draft, the Bengals chose LSU’s Joe Burrow, who would go on to lead his team to the Super Bowl in his sophomore season in the NFL. The importance of an early pick in the first round cannot be overstated.
In this year’s draft, the Bears hold the first pick, where it is almost certain they will take USC’s Caleb Williams, who is one of the top quarterback prospects in recent history. This leaves the Commanders with few options. To fans, it is clear that the Commanders should choose a quarterback. It is by far the most important position on the field and the Commanders have struggled in that area for years. After the Commanders traded quarterback Sam Howell on Mar. 14, they made it clear they will be drafting a quarterback with their second pick. The question now comes down to what quarterback they will draft.
For me, the clear answer is UNC’s Drake Maye. He stands at 6’4 and weighs 230 lbs, giving him a similar frame to the likes of Josh Allen who has been the Bill’s main piece for multiple seasons. One of Maye’s biggest flaws is that he lacks athleticism, but this has proven to not be an issue in the NFL with players like seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady. His success as a pocket passer in North Carolina will most definitely carry over to the NFL. On the Commanders he will immediately take advantage of his new situation, slinging the ball to wide receiver Terry Mclaurin, who has proven to be a top wide receiver in the NFL.
Although Maye is the clear choice, other quarterbacks have entered the conversation. For example, there have been serious rumors about the Commanders drafting Michigan’s JJ McCarthy. After McCarthy won a national title with Michigan, his draft stock skyrocketed. However, he led a team that could’ve won with or without him. He will forever be remembered as a Michigan legend but unfortunately, his abilities likely won’t translate well at the professional level.
Michigan’s recent success can be attributed to their outstanding run game and offensive line. For that reason, picking McCarthy is a gamble because he has never been put to the task of making a team around him better. The Commanders don’t need a quarterback to manage an already strong team because the Commanders’ roster, as proven in past seasons, is simply not good yet. They need someone who can transform their losing roster into a winning one. McCarthy has not yet proven to be capable of that.
Lastly, and close in the conversation to Maye, is LSU’s Jayden Daniels, who won the most recent Heisman, the most prestigious award in college football. Daniels has shown an NFL-level of passing ability, but also brings outstanding scrambling capabilities to the table. Although this does make him a more well-rounded player, this still makes him more injury-prone because he will be dealing with more tackles. One of the reasons Tom Brady was able to play for 23 seasons is that he is comfortable staying in the pocket and avoiding harsh tackles. As an NFL player, Daniels will showcase his rushing abilities, which will help the team in the short-run but ultimately reduce his longevity due to his increased risk of injury by tackles.
