Jayden Daniels is selected by Commanders with second pick at the 2024 NFL Draft as Heisman winner and LSU star will become Washington’s 13th starting quarterback since 2018

The Washington Commanders hope to finally solve their decades-long conundrum at quarterback by taking Heisman winner and former LSU star Jayden Daniels with the second pick of Thursday’s NFL Draft in Detroit.

USC quarterback Caleb Williams has long been considered a lock for the Chicago Bears with the first overall pick. It was the second pick, with Washington looking to replace failed starter Sam Howell after a 4-13 season, that split the pundits.

Commanding general manager Adam Peters ultimately chose Williams over North Carolina’s Drake Maye and Michigan’s JJ McCarthy, both of whom were invited by team personnel to a recent TopGolf outing with Daniels.

“They’ve done a pretty good job of not showing their hand too much,” Daniels said after being picked Thursday. “But based on the conversations we had, I felt pretty confident that I could come here and fit into the Commanders team. I’m here now. I can’t wait to get started.’

Reports that Daniels’ agent, Ron Butler, was unhappy with the visit led to his client answering questions about it 33 hours before commanders were on the clock.

Daniels won the Heisman Trophy last year and hopes to be a solution for the Commanders

Daniels won a Heisman Trophy at LSU and now he heads to Washington with the No. 2 pick

Daniels spent the next few days spreading speculation that he hoped to avoid Washington — a team that has suffered about 30 starting quarterbacks this millennium.

“I just had fun with the other guys because I was able to communicate with people throughout the whole process. It was cool,” Daniels said of Topgolf, adding that he is not a golfer but is starting to learn the sport.

Teams typically want to maximize their time with a player prior to the draft, so Washington was criticized for its decision to host a group visit.

Daniels downplayed that he had any problems with it.

“I spent a long time with them,” Daniels said. ‘Obviously there were Zoom meetings beforehand and the combination and when I got there I spent some time with them but I had other places to go so I had to catch a flight but overall it was it’s just a good visit.’

New Commanders coach Dan Quinn hired former Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury as offensive coordinator. Kingsbury had some success with dual-threat QB Kyler Murray in Arizona and previously with Patrick Mahomes and Johnny Manziel in college.

“Obviously, his track record with mobile quarterbacks speaks for itself,” Daniels said. “I know Cliff.”

Jayden Daniels celebrates after a game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Tiger Stadium

Ex-LSU quarterback Daniels opted for a gray and white ensemble with sunglasses

In addition to winning the Heisman, Daniels was also the Associated Press Player of the Year.

Daniels received 35 of 51 first-place votes and 130 points overall from AP Top 25 voters. The Heisman Trophy finalist finished comfortably ahead of Washington quarterback Michael Penix, who finished second with 15 first-place votes and 97 points.

Oregon QB Bo Nix was third, with Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison fourth and Oklahoma State fifth. Nix received the other first place award. USC quarterback Caleb Williams, the 2022 AP Player of the Year and last year’s Heisman winner, received no votes this season.

Daniels, Penix, Nix and Harrison are the finalists for the Heisman, which will be presented on Saturday in New York. The AP Award winner has differed from the Heisman winner only twice in the last twenty years.

Daniels, a native of San Bernardino, California, who transferred to LSU from Arizona State in 2022, has led the nation in total offense this season with 4,946 yards in 12 games (412.2 yards per game). He has passed for 3,812 yards, which ranks third nationally. His 40 TDs pass first nationally with Nix, who has played in one more game than Daniels.

The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Daniels rushed for 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns. His 50 touchdowns, rushing and passing combined, along with a 2-point conversion on a passing play, have made him responsible for a nationally high 302 points.

As a youth athlete, his nickname was “Smooth,” he said in an interview with The Associated Press, “because it looks like I don’t run fast or fast … but I move faster than what most people think.”

As productive as Daniels has been as a passer, his elusiveness and breakaway speed as a scrambler have set him apart. During a 52–35 win over Florida, Daniels became the first Football Bowl Subdivision QB to pass for over 350 yards and rush for over 200 yards in a game.

LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels runs passing drills during the Tigers’ pro day in April

“His ability to run when things aren’t there is unique,” ​​LSU coach Brian Kelly said. “His speed, his durability, his toughness put him among the greats.”

Daniels rushed for touchdowns of 85 and 51 yards against Florida, and said the latter was an example of his instinctive approach to scrambling. He said he read a linebacker’s eyes before shooting behind him and then making his way into the end zone.

“It’s just all instincts,” Daniels said. “It’s not something I think about before the snap.”

His approach involves risks and emphasizes toughness.

A big and arguably late goal at Missouri briefly forced Daniels out of that game with a deep bruise in his ribs. He returned to lead LSU to a comeback victory, highlighted by his 35-yard scoring run. The rib injury hindered him for two more games.

“My pain tolerance is high,” Daniels said. “I was able to go there and deal with it.”

Pain tolerance is definitely a plus for anyone going to Washington.