In the lead-up to the NFL Draft, it appears that the Washington Commanders had their sights set on Jayden Daniels for weeks, but reportedly, they also evaluated another quarterback. Contrary to speculation, this quarterback wasn’t Drake Maye.
Amid rumors circulating before the draft, there were suggestions that Daniels might not be interested in joining the Commanders. This speculation caused a significant shift in betting odds, momentarily placing Daniels only slightly ahead of Maye as the potential second overall pick.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, those who influenced this odds shift were focused on the wrong quarterback. Schefter revealed on “The Pat McAfee Show” that the Commanders were considering former Michigan standout JJ McCarthy alongside Jayden Daniels. He clarified that Drake Maye was not in contention for the second overall pick, as he was expected to be selected third by the New England Patriots.
"Drake Maye was never gonna go to the Commanders at two..
The two Quarterbacks they had in consideration were Jayden Daniels and JJ McCarthy" ~ @AdamSchefter #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/SZTmiNv1t4
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 29, 2024
Just before the draft, Daniels dispelled any rumors about his reluctance to play for Washington, solidifying his status as the likely second overall pick. While there were still uncertainties about whether the Patriots would select Maye or McCarthy at third overall, they ultimately opted for Maye, the expected choice. However, a surprising decision later in the draft altered the expected order, leaving McCarthy as not even the third quarterback selected.
The sequence of events in the first three picks of the draft served as another reminder that pre-draft rumors are often mere conjecture, influenced by agents and other parties attempting to shape the draft outcome.
