TODAY, 7:20pm: Daniels’ visit with the Commanders has officially been scheduled. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the quarterback will visit with the team next Monday and Tuesday.
MARCH 27, 11:00am: Jayden Daniels is going through an abbreviated pro day Wednesday. The 2023 Heisman winner is expected to throw, but NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe notes the LSU product is not planning to perform other drills. He will then prepare for a cross-country tour of “30” visits.
The fast-rising prospect already has six meetings scheduled, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. The Commanders, Patriots, Giants, Vikings, Broncos and Raiders are planning to meet with Daniels. This sextet of teams makes sense due to QB needs or draft proximity.
The Bears not being included is notable, and the team not meeting with the dual-threat talent would only further solidify its intentions of starting the draft with a Caleb Williams pick. Considering the 2022 Heisman winner has hovered over this draft class for months, the Bears not taking a meeting with another QB prospect would not be too surprising. Then again, a Chicago meeting could emerge down the road during the pre-draft process. Ryan Poles, however, is among several prominent execs or HCs at the pro day.
As should be expected, Antonio Pierce is at LSU’s pro day. The Raiders HC has offered persistent Daniels praise, after being on Arizona State’s staff during the QB prospect’s time with the Sun Devils. Jerod Mayo, Dan Quinn, Dennis Allen, Adam Peters and Joe Hortiz are among the other HCs and execs in attendance today in Baton Rouge, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes. Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham joins his boss at the pro day, per Breer.
High-end wide receiver prospect Malik Nabers is also generating considerable attention, as should be expected. After declining to weigh in at the Combine, Daniels checked in at 210 pounds today, per Breer.
Each of the teams preparing to bring in Daniels holds a pick between Nos. 2 and 13. The Raiders are on the low end here, landing at No. 13 after they completed a sweep of the Broncos in Week 18. Although mock drafts have regularly sent Daniels to Washington or New England at No. 2 or No. 3, Las Vegas has been consistently connected to him. Daniels attended the Raiders’ regular-season finale to support Pierce, celebrating with the team in the locker room after the game. Connected to a potential trade-up, the Raiders are also believed to have brought up Daniels during their OC search.
The Vikings (No. 11) and Broncos (No. 12) reside well outside of Daniels range as well, but both are logically being tied to a trade-up maneuver. Minnesota acquired Houston’s first-round pick (No. 27), providing more ammo to climb up for a passer. Denver does not have its second-rounder, sending it to New Orleans for Sean Payton, and traded three first-round picks — for Payton and Russell Wilson — from 2022-23. Although the Broncos are planning to acquire another veteran to compete with Jarrett Stidham, they will surely be in on first-round QBs.
Washington (No. 2) and New England (No. 3) have clear needs. How the Commanders proceed will be a pivot point in this draft, with the team now tied to three passers — Daniels, Drake Maye, J.J. McCarthy — at No. 2. Patriots trade-down rumblings have emerged, though a previous rumor suggested some of the team’s scouts are higher on Daniels than Maye. The Pats are doing considerable recon ahead of their Daniels meeting, with Breer adding nine New England representatives are on-hand today.
If the Commanders want Daniels, trade-ups will not factor into the equation. The Giants could also be left out if they are eyeing last year’s Heisman recipient, seeing as the Commanders will be unlikely to trade them the No. 2 pick. Steadily linked to QBs despite Daniel Jones‘ employment, New York has a big-picture decision to make. The team, which holds the No. 6 pick, can easily move on from Jones by 2025. The Giants have already met with Maye and McCarthy.
Transferring to LSU in 2022, Daniels broke through with a dominant final season and became the second Tigers QB to win the Heisman in four years. Following Joe Burrow, Daniels obviously displayed a more versatile skillset than the pocket passer. Accounting for 50 TDs (40 passing) last season, Daniels paired 3,812 passing yards with 1,134 on the ground. The ex-Arizona State recruit completed 72.2% of his passes, setting himself up to go early in this year’s draft.
McCarthy at #2?
Shades of Will Levis rumoured at times to be an option at #1 last year?
Jayden Daniels will henceforth be known as Black Wilson because I’m telling you now, this dude has Zach Wilson written all over over him.
I can see sacks being a big problem for Daniels and think he’s risky, but otherwise don’t see them as being similar at all.
As a Patriots fan, I hope we don’t end up with this guy. Much too quick to tuck and run. Will get exposed in the NFL.
He’s a commander. It’s so obvious why waste that man’s time with visits. They won’t pass on him I’m 97% sure lol
I still have a hard time believing Maye won’t be QB2 in this class. Obviously a lot of talk to the contrary, but we’ll see.
Maye isn’t a top 5 in my book tbh
Maye’s bad tape is awful, but I think he has the second highest probability in this class of turning into a top ten QB in the league.
Potentially. Nix should be higher than Maye
He will get six dinners, presumably?
A lot of food yes
I’m personally excited to see how Bears’ fans put up with tier QB wearing pink lipstick and fingernails. This is gonna be entertainment!!
link to twitter.com
This is a league where multiple teams have looked the other way on sexual misconduct when investing heavily in QBs. Why worry about a kid having a little fun with his style?
It’s the fans I’m thinking about. I guess Chicago was cool w/ Denis Rodman & his style. But if/when losing starts, I bet his image gets attacked by them.
Some fans were going to attack him no matter what. He’s a hyped young quarterback replacing a guy a lot of Bears fans like in a big market. Having a mind of his own might help dealing with the attacks he was inevitably going to face no matter what his personality was like.
You’re right. I don’t think much of him as a QB. Below average offensive stats against top 25 teams and sub .500 against them.
Zach W, Kenny P, T Lance, Tua has been dinged up, & the same for Kyler M…. Point being media and fans chew up highly drafted QB’s when they don’t win. Add in his personality and I can only imagine how bad the media will rip him.
Scouting the college stat line—let alone a sliver of it—is not the best way to evaluate a QB’s pro future. It’s clear he rubs you the wrong way, but he’s a better prospect than all those guys.
‘he’s a better prospect than all those guys.’ That’s what’s said every year about the top QB & few pan out. Stats are a very determining factor for evaluating a QB or any position for that. The combine & team workouts are nothing but stats; ‘how fast int he 40? How far & high can he jump? How fast in the shuttle, & how much can he bench press?’. What he did against top 25 teams certainly plays into that account as well.
You know I meant box score stats. And no, not every QB has been talked about this way. Only Lawrence has been rated as highly going into the draft in recent years. As for his stats, he’ll likely do better when he has more help and doesn’t feel forced to play hero ball.
Both OU & USC were always top 25 teams starting the seasons w/ him under center. He had talent to play with while in college, & came up small. One thing to beat D2 schools, another to beat NFL teams.
To your point, he has a #1 WR, solid TE, & 1st round LT; all requirements for a young QB. I expect him to bust. He may have talent, but his ego will get in his way.
Mahomes didn’t even have a winning record his last year of college. Josh Allen had abysmal completion rates against worse competition. Williams was a major part of why they had those rankings. His receiving talent was nowhere close to what Daniels or Penix had, and he often had to compensate for his defense. You seem determined to believe that his personality will be a fatal flaw. I just don’t share that view.
Both Mahomes and Allen played at smaller schools w/o national championship aspirations either or 1st round NFL talent on their rosters. Caleb is going to flame out and it’s going to be spectacular to watch! And yes, his personality will be a fatal flaw. He has no backbone and when there is a 2-4 game losing streak; he’ll get chewed up in the media, as they all do, and he’ll wilt.
I think Williams is going to be at least a good starting quarterback, but I also can’t understand how fervently and personally you seem to dislike this stranger.
‘At least a good starting QB.’? Not what I want out of a #1 QB. It’s an impatient league & more importantly an impatient city. Act like a clown and everyone will mock you for it. Wearing pink lipstick & fingernails is a clown act.
“At least a good QB” was in response to you confidently saying he’s going to flame out (and indicating that you’re going to enjoy it). I think he’s going to be a top ten QB in the league, and has the best chance of that of any QB prospect going into the draft since Lawrence (I think Lawrence will still get there, even if he’s never top five). You can dislike him and his fashion choices all you like (seriously, you’re welcome to dislike a guy), but I don’t think it has much if any bearing on what kind of player he’s going to be.
Couldn’t disagree with you more.
I don’t think a fashion ensemble of pink lipstick and fingernails is really complete unless a pair of those pantyhose Joe Namath use to wear is acquired.
Great comparison. Both are ‘Look at me!’ QB’s. It worked for Joe, maybe it’ll work w/ Caleb. I guess I would be more interested in a ‘I want to focus on being the best QB. I know the money & fame is already here.’.
Saying “I want to focus on being the best QB” sounds contrived too as even Nathan Peterman probably used that line at least once.
I don’t really see the issue. A couple of RS fans had an issue with Casas doing his nails also. It seem like a really inconsequential issue to me.
Congrats to Javon and Regina on there son
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
55% of the QB’s taken in the 1st round do not work out.
I think Jayden is worth the #2 pick.
Maye needs to sit for a year. I think Jayden could start right away.
Nobody these days uses a top 5 draft pick on next year’s QB. He will be the starter.
That is the problem for a lot of young Qb’s this day and age. Sometimes rookies can benefit from watching the system for a year. Most of the time players are thrown into the deep end and expected to swim with the sharks right away. It is unfortunate more rookies are not given the chance to learn and grow from the bench.
Basically every great QB sat, or didn’t play much, their first year or more. Even Payton Manning, who played as a rookie and sucked, didn’t start to show anything until his second year. Mahomes was a red shirt, Brady was a late pick who had to wait for a shot, Steve Young sat behind Montana, Aaron Rodgers sat behind Favre. The list goes on and on. These young QBs should start suing teams for damaging their careers by making them play as rookies.
I hope you’re right and the Pats get Maye. Sit him for a year so he doesn’t get killed, and use a high draft pick next year to get him help.
Same to you! They will pick him and he will start. They need the reps.
Seeing his pro day highlights online, didn’t see any anticipation throws (slants, comebacks, sticks, crossing, out breaking) Everything was go long or RB in the flat like most of his games. That was my biggest ? about him and it wasn’t answered.
1 or 2 of the top four guys is gonna fall out of the top 10. Too many really good tackles and receivers that have less question marks.
Imagine letting the media make the pick for you, and then not even bringing in other players for visits. If Williams ends up like the majority of 1st overall picks (bust), can’t imagine the brass in Chicago holding on to their jobs, or ever getting new ones, after such willful negligence. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, this is why teams like the Bears are perennial bottom dwellers and laughing stock of the entire league.
yea buddy the media is influencing the pick for the Bears. moron