Commanders’ Dan Quinn Given 1 Reason to Pick Drake Maye Over Jayden Daniels Days Before NFL Draft

Everyone is on the edge of their seats about who the Washington Commanders will snag with the second overall pick in the rapidly approaching NFL Draft. While it seems a given that Caleb Williams will be the Chicago Bears’ top choice, speculation is rife about the Commanders’ decision. On The Colin Cowherd Podcast, Cowherd hinted, based on insider whispers, that Daniels is poised to don the Washington jersey. And it’s not just Cowherd.

Yet, there’s a twist in the tale, as unveiled by a PFF pundit. Contrary to the current buzz, it’s Drake Maye who might be calling the shots as the Commanders’ new QB. During a chat on The Al Galdi Podcast, Trevor Sikkema delved into his consistent forecasts of Maye joining the Commanders, arguing that Maye outshines Daniels as the prime candidate.

Analyst presents a compelling case for Drake Maye to be a Commander

In the eleventh-hour strategizing before the NFL Draft, PFF analyst Trevor Sikemma gives the Commanders’ head coach Dan Quinn something significant to consider: the case for choosing Drake Maye over Jayden Daniels. “Personally, I get it, right? It’s a quarterback—you’re trying to pick the one that is going to hit for you,” Sikemma explained. “I’d be taking Drake Maye, I really would. He’s been my quarterback two pretty much wire to wire since this summer.”

Despite what critics called a down year for Maye in 2023, Sikemma remains unswayed. “Drake Maye gives you the ability to step up and hit every single throw in every single situation,” he argued. “We’re in an arms race. We’re trying to light up the scoreboard. Drake Maye does, and he does it on all three levels of the field.” While acknowledging that Maye needs to refine some fundamentals, Sikemma is bullish on his natural talent, which he sees as a deciding factor. “The natural God-given talent that he shows—that’s the stuff that you’ve got to gravitate towards,” Sikemma asserted.

Contrasting Maye with Daniels, Sikemma concedes that Daniels has the best fundamentals of any quarterback in the class, a consistency that is alluring to NFL teams. However, the gap in arm talent between Daniels and top prospects like Maye is notable. Despite this, Cowherd and former NFL scout John Middlekauff, still want Daniels on the Commanders’ roster.

Daniels to be the Commanders’ playcaller?

Chatting with John Middlekauff on his show, Cowherd shared a little insider draft info. He mentioned that after talking to a couple of league executives; he got the impression that Daniels was set to be in Washington. Adding to the conversation, Jeremy Fowler from ESPN, while on SportsCenter, hinted at Washington’s plans to have a sit-down with Daniels. “I was told that Washington does plan to meet with Daniels at some point. The feeling strongly around the league is that he’s the No. 2 quarterback and that he would likely go second or third.”

Daniels had a standout final season at LSU, posting some jaw-dropping stats that included over 3,800 yards in the air and 40 touchdown passes, complemented by an impressive ground game with more than 1,100 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns. Under the mentorship of head coach Dan Quinn, there’s a chance he could breathe new life into a struggling team. Cowherd brought up Drake Maye as another intriguing prospect, but he noted that Maye’s less impressive last season might relegate him to being the third pick.

As decision day looms, Sikemma’s insights are sure to be part of the intense deliberations within the Commanders’ war room. Will they echo Sikemma’s confidence in Maye, or will the allure of Daniels’ consistency sway their choice? We’ll get to know once the Draft commences.