‘The Next Lamar Jackson!’ Commanders Draft QB Jayden Daniels in New NFL Mock

‘The Next Lamar Jackson!’ Washington Commanders Draft QB Jayden Daniels in New NFL Mock

The Washington Commanders endured a tough season by any metric as a 4-13 record ended with the franchise having more questions than answers about its future long term.

But with the hires of general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn, things are starting to fall into place for the new ownership group led by Josh Harris.

Now, attention turns to exactly what the Commanders will do with the No. 2 pick as the consensus is that the franchise will help kickstart this new era with a talented quarterback - but which one? 

CBS Sports' Ryan Wilson doesn't have Washington going with the "conventional" pick with Caleb Williams if they trade up, instead, the Commanders select what he thinks can be the best player in the entire class in Jayden Daniels.

"No player did more for their draft stock in the fall than Jayden Daniels, who went from possible Day 3 pick to first-round prospect," Wilson writes. "He reminds me of Lamar Jackson, and it's not crazy to think that, five years from now, we'll look back and say that Daniels was the best player in this class."

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

The Lamar Jackson comparison is an interesting one as Daniels in his two seasons with LSU, threw for 6,725 yards, 57 touchdowns, and just seven interceptions while aos rushing for 2,019 yards and 21 touchdowns as he is the very definition of a dual-threat quarterback - like Lamar.

Williams seems to be the consensus No. 1 pick and there have been rumors as the Commanders signed Kliff Kingsbury as their offensive coordinator that they could be going after Williams.

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But in Daniels, Washington is getting a quarterback who can do it all as he is a surgeon with the ball and he can shred a defense with his arm talent. Due to his ability to evade pressure in the pocket, if a play breaks down, he can take off like a running back and pick up extra yards thanks to his unofficial 4.5 speed.

Washington needs a quarterback and in Daniels, they can have a player who might be similar to Lamar Jackson. If Jayden becomes a Lamar-level player? The franchise will have a turnaround on its hands.