Eisen: Jayden Daniels Viewed as QB2 Over Drake Maye Amid NFL Draft 2024 Rumors

Timothy Rapp@@TRappaRTFeatured Columnist IVMarch 5, 2024

Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Jayden Daniels continues to make a strong case to be the second quarterback off the board at the 2024 NFL draft.

On Monday, Rich Eisen reported on his show that the buzz during the NFL Scouting Combine was that Daniels had passed Drake Maye on the big boards of many NFL teams (3:15 mark).

“I’ll just flat-out tell you: Daniels is QB2 in this draft. That’s it,” Eisen said. “And the reasoning I keep hearing about it is him vs. Maye—and a few people think Daniels is QB1—but the reason you keep hearing for him above Maye is every defensive coordinator or defensive coach you come across at the combine says this is the nightmare fuel when you’re trying to stop a quarterback. And all you would hear from defensive coaches in the SEC who took this kid on—worst nightmare for them, prepping and playing, all year.”

The QB1, presumably, will be Caleb Williams. But Daniels going above Maye continues to gain steam.

Lance Zierlein of NFL.com mocked Daniels to the Washington Commanders with the No. 2 overall pick, sending Maye to the New England Patriots one selection later. Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports had Daniels going No. 2 overall as well.

Get Up @GetUpESPN”If I’m a general manager, I feel like the more sure thing is Jayden Daniels.”

—@Hawk on his top draft prospect 👀 pic.twitter.com/9GNL7UwEmx

JP Finlay @JPFinlayNBCSCharles Davis says “defensive coaches go nuts” for QBs that can make plays off schedule. Predicts Dan Quinn will push for Jayden Daniels with 2nd overall pick pic.twitter.com/66F9rif0Db

The B/R NFL Scouting Department believes Maye is the top overall prospect in this class, not Williams, though its latest mock draft still had Williams going No. 1, Maye after him and Daniels No. 3. And Ben Solak of The Ringer reported on Monday that he “heard significantly more interest and excitement for how high Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy might go relative to how high Daniels might go.”

So there isn’t consensus, and there’s obviously a lot of misinformation floating around as teams try to keep their cards close to the vest. But it’s undeniable that Daniels has impressed folks around the NFL.