DETROIT — Jayden Daniels dealt with the media with the identical poise and command he shows within the pocket.
Requested a number of occasions about hypothesis that he does not need to play for Washington and whether or not he prefers going to a different crew, Daniels understandably took a diplomatic method at some point earlier than the NFL draft.
“I am blessed to go wherever I am known as,” Daniels stated Wednesday. “Whoever calls my cellphone, whoever offers the cardboard to the Commissioner that claims my title, I am blessed to go and so they’re gonna get my all.”
Watch the 2024 NFL Draft on ABC and ESPN April 25-27.
Pressed additional in regards to the Commanders and requested if he’d be OK going there, Daniels replied: “100%.”
The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner from LSU, who attended San Bernardino’s Cajon Excessive College, is anticipated to be one of many high three gamers chosen Thursday evening. After USC quarterback Caleb Williams goes to Chicago first general, Daniels is the odds-on favourite to be the No. 2 choose, in line with BetMGM Sportsbook.
The Commanders want a franchise QB and can have their alternative of Daniels, North Carolina’s Drake Maye or Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy. The crew took an unorthodox method throughout its predraft visits and hosted all of them collectively together with a number of different prospects for a Topgolf outing.
Heisman winner Jayden Daniels returned to his hometown San Bernardino for an enormous celebration this weekend as he awaits the 2024 NFL draft.
Reviews that Daniels’ agent, Ron Butler, wasn’t happy with the go to led to his consumer answering questions on it 33 hours earlier than the Commanders are on the clock.
“I simply had enjoyable with the opposite guys simply having the ability to work together with individuals all through the method. It was cool,” Daniels stated, including that he isn’t a golfer however is beginning to study the game.
Groups sometimes need to maximize their time with a participant forward of the draft so Washington confronted criticism for its choice to host a gaggle go to.
Daniels downplayed having any points with it.
“I spent fairly a while with them,” Daniels stated. “Clearly, Zoom conferences prior and the mix and once I acquired up there I spent a while with them, however I had different locations to go, so I needed to catch a flight however general only a good go to.”
New Commanders coach Dan Quinn employed former Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury to be the offensive coordinator. Kingsbury had some success with dual-threat QB Kyler Murray in Arizona and beforehand with Patrick Mahomes and Johnny Manziel in faculty.
“Clearly, his monitor report with cell quarterbacks speaks for itself,” Daniels stated. “I have been accustomed to Kliff.”
Daniels has a robust relationship with Raiders coach Antonio Pierce, who was an assistant at Arizona State when he performed there earlier than transferring to LSU.
Las Vegas must commerce up from No. 13 to get Daniels.
“I’ve recognized AP since I used to be a young person, so clearly our relationship off the sector meant quite a bit,” Daniels stated. “We’ll see what occurs however I am blessed to go wherever I am known as.”
Daniels, Williams and Maye are amongst 13 gamers on the town for the draft. They participated in a soccer clinic with Particular Olympics Michigan athletes on a chilly, blustery morning in a ballpark that was once the positioning of outdated Tigers Stadium.
Williams had an enormous smile all through the occasion. He tossed 5 straight landing passes to kids at one level. Prospects performed catch, ran routes, gave ideas and interacted with the youth for an hour on the sector earlier than a 30-minute session with reporters.
“I had a blast,” Williams stated. “They appeared to have a good time. It was actually satisfying for me. Soccer is about having enjoyable.”
Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix may be part of Williams, Daniels, Maye and McCarthy to make it six quarterbacks in a primary spherical that is loaded with offensive gamers. Six would tie the report for many QBs within the first spherical.
The 1983 draft had three Corridor of Fame quarterbacks – John Elway, Dan Marino and Jim Kelly – chosen within the first spherical together with Todd Blackledge, Tony Eason and Ken O’Brien.
Essentially the most QBs within the high 5 is three, so there’s an opportunity this draft will set a report if McCarthy sneaks in.
“We’ve an opportunity to be actual good,” Daniels stated of the draft class. “A variety of particular expertise on this draft.”
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