NFL Draft Rumors: Commanders Get Trade Calls amid Jayden Daniels-Drake Maye Debate

As the Washington Commanders continue to debate what they want to do with the No. 2 pick in the 2024 NFL draft, other teams are at least gauging their interest in potentially moving out of that spot.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported on SportsCenter on Saturday that the Commanders have been getting trade calls even though the expectation around the league is they will end up staying put to select either Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye:

"They have been unpredictable, and I've talked to a team source who said they are still open with a thorough process. They have not made a firm determination on which direction they're going. Everybody around the league expects Chicago at 1 to take Caleb Williams of course. So, Washington's going to go into next week with a contingent going to the Pro Days of both Jayden Daniels at LSU, Drake Maye at UNC. They're going to shake that out, see what they like. Kliff Kingsbury the OC will be there with head coach Dan Quinn, and they'll have the cavalry. So, they're going to after that sort through the entire process. I know they are getting calls, inquiries about the No. 2 pick from teams potentially moving up but largely despite all of those theatrics the feeling around the league is they'll take one of those two guys that you rarely get a chance to take at No. 2 a quarterback like they have now."

There has been buzz for awhile now that Daniels, the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner, is Washington's preferred choice with the second pick.

Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer said earlier this week on NBC Sports Boston's Areblla Early Edition (h/t Nick Goss of NBC Sports Boston) it seems like Daniels is "probably the leader in the clubhouse to be a Commander" right now.

New Washington offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury is familiar with a quarterback who has a somewhat similar skill set to Daniels. He was Kyler Murray's head coach for four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals from 2019 to '22.

The New York Giants (No. 6), Minnesota Vikings (No. 11 and 23), Denver Broncos (No. 12) and Las Vegas Raiders (No. 13) stand out as quarterback-needy teams that seem poised to make a trade up if the option is available.

Given how long it's been since the Commanders have had a potential franchise quarterback, and picking No. 2 overall in a draft with multiple options worth selecting at that spot, it would seem unlikely they would strongly entertain a trade.

It would be a mistake not to at least listen to potential offers from other teams, but ultimately the smart money would be on either Daniels or Maye ending up on the Commanders with the second pick.