Commanders' Dan Quinn Will 'Push' to Draft 'Next Lamar Jackson' Jayden Daniels, Says Analyst
With the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL, the Washington Commanders will have a chance to turn the franchise around with the quarterback of their choosing outside of Caleb Williams, who's expected to get drafted with the top pick.
Whether it's LSU quarterback and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels or 2022 ACC Player of the Year Drake Maye, head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters will land a potentially franchise-altering player in the first draft of their rebuild. NFL Network analyst and former defensive back Charles Davis predicted that given Quinn's expertise on defense, he'll push to take Daniels because of his ability to use his legs.
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
"I do think Jayden Daniels will hold a lot of value and a lot of intrigue because Washington has hired Dan Quinn as its new head coach," Davis said on NFL Network. "Defensive-minded head coaches go nuts for quarterbacks who can do things off-schedule [and] run the football...He's the next Lamar Jackson."
The former LSU quarterback had one of the best seasons in recent memory in 2023. In his Heisman campaign, Daniels threw for 3,812 yards, 40 touchdowns and just four interceptions. He was also a dynamic threat with his legs, running for 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Daniels also spoke glowingly of his meeting at the NFL Scouting Combine with Quinn, offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and the rest of the Commanders coaching staff. The potential connection with Kingsbury is worth mentioning too, as he had a dynamic quarterback in Kyler Murray during his four years as the Arizona Cardinals' head coach.
"With them, it was how cool the staff was," Daniels said. "Obviously, Dan Quinn, Kliff Kingsbury, all those types of guys [and] just being able to sit in there and really just get to know people. You see them on TV [and] you see everybody coaching behind the scenes. So being to go out there and have a conversation with them, that's the coolest part for me."
If Washington is going to become relevant again, it needs to get things right at the quarterback position. If Daniels' ability to use his legs pushes him in Quinn's favor, then the Commanders should take the guy their head coach is infatuated with if they're going to sustain success and turn things around with this regime.
