Even though the tampering period is in full swing, and free agency officially began at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, that hasn’t stopped rumblings for the 2024 NFL Draft coming to light.
The Washington Commanders are well-positioned to take the quarterback of their choice with the No. 2 overall pick after the Chicago Bears presumably USC QB Caleb Williams with first overall. Betting odds have begun to shift and hint toward who Washington will take, as multiple betting sites have made LSU quarterback and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels the favorite to be the Commanders’ pick at No. 2 overall.
DraftKings has Daniels as a -145 favorite to get drafted by the Commanders, while FanDuel has him as a slightly bigger favorite at -150. UNC quarterback Drake Maye trails Daniels on both sites, as he’s a +130 on FanDuel and +125 on DraftKings.
Quarterback Jayden Daniels 5 as the LSU Tigers take on Texas A&M in Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, November 25, 2023.
SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network / USA TODAY NETWORK
BettingOdds noted that Maye was a huge favorite in early February, as his odds to get drafted by the Commanders had swelled up to -300.
The shift in those odds could be a result of many things. With teams being able to focus more on the draft during the offseason, that scouting process has led to Daniels being viewed more favorably by teams. Information getting leaked could also be why the odds have swung in Daniels’ favor.
Daniels was the most dynamic dual-threat quarterback in the nation last season, as he threw for 3,812 yards and 40 touchdowns and ran for over 1,134 yards and 10 scores in 2023. Along with winning the Heisman Trophy, Daniels was an All-Amerocan and the SEC Player of the Year in 2023. His ability to be such a dynamic threat with his arm and legs seemingly makes him a perfect fit for Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.
Maye is also capable of using his legs, though, he isn’t the threat Daniels is. He had his best season in 2022, as he was named the ACC Offensive Player of the Year and the conference’s Player of the Year. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound quarterback threw for 4,321 yards, 38 touchdowns and seven interceptions and ran for 698 yards and seven scores.
Last season, Maye threw for 3,608 yards, 24 touchdowns and nine interceptions, and he ran for 449 yards and nine scores.
The race for the No. 2 overall pick appears to be a two-man race between Daniels and Maye. If the odds continue to swing toward the LSU quarterback, the Commanders’ pick will be a formality in April.
