Washington Commanders Trade Down vs. Jayden Daniels: What's More Valuable?

Should the Washington Commanders trade back to get more NFL Draft capital or draft LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels?

Jayden Daniels / SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network / USA

The Washington Commanders are hoping for a swift franchise turnaround, as evidenced by the team signing 26 free agents. Still, the NFL Draft will ultimately decide whether or not new general manager Adam Peters’ first offseason is viewed as a success.

Perhaps the most crucial decision Peters will make is who he takes at No. 2 overall. While many have predicted that Washington will take a quarterback like LSU’s Jayden Daniels, some have argued that doing so would be a mistake.

Jayden Daniels / SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network / USA

“Daniels should be the second player off the board,” NFL.com writes. “But I'm telling you, Commanders, you are not a quarterback away from seriously competing. You could be next year -- if you were to take multiple first-round picks from the Vikings in exchange for this selection. Or if the Broncos/Raiders were willing to give you a haul like the Panthers shelled out for the right to take Bryce Young one year ago. 

“I know you saw the Texans take a quarterback at No. 2 overall last year, surge to the top of the division, and win a playoff game. Now you think that's in the cards for you in 2024, huh? Well, I just don't see it like that.”

It may be highly optimistic to envision a turnaround as drastic as Houston's a season ago, but that doesn't mean the team shouldn’t draft a quarterback second overall instead of trading back. A quarterback doesn't have to be the first piece in a rebuild, and it’s fair to say that Washington could benefit from adding more picks, but it's never that simple. 

At No. 2 overall, the Commanders and Peters have complete control of the franchise’s destiny so long as the team accepts that USC quarterback Caleb Williams isn't in their cards. Moving back would allow Peters to cast a wider net into the draft pool but at the expense of tossing it into more shallow waters. 

No prospect or pick is guaranteed to become a good player, but the further back in the draft Peters moves, the less control he has at selecting a player that he’s supremely confident in. 

What C.J. Stroud brought to the Texans was bigger than making the playoffs. Stroud brought leadership to Houston and created a winning mindset, which elevated everyone's play.

Rookie quarterbacks represent hope for a franchise, and considering all of the off-field distractions that Washington fans have had to deal with in recent years, there's an argument that taking Daniels is not only the right option but the only option to give fans what they deserve: the promise of an exciting future.