The consensus heading into the leadup of the draft is that LSU’s [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] is the third-best quarterback prospect behind Caleb Williams and Drake Maye.
However, that opinion isn’t held universally.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has Daniels one spot ahead of Maye on his overall prospect rankings big board, and he went further in-depth on why he made that decision.
“Drake Maye had three games, even after Tez Walker came back — Clemson game, Virginia game, NC State game — I keep harping on it because I went back and looked at those games time and time again,” Kiper said Monday, per On3. “I said, ‘OK, why were those throws not accurately delivered?’ There was no reason. I think you look at Jayden, how many games like that did he have? Zero.
“Jayden Daniels was lights out all year. Jayden Daniels was on fire all year in pressure situations, where he had to match points with the opposition. Yes, he had [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag], but you think about where we are right now with Jayden Daniels, he might have made everybody better.”
Kiper said one factor that separates Daniels is his ability to be aggressive with both his arm and legs while minimizing turnovers, which he did in each of the last two seasons.
“Daniels stressed the defense phenomenally well with his legs. This guy is a remarkable running threat,” Kiper said. “He keeps plays alive like where other quarterbacks would have been sacked or just thrown the ball away. He’s gonna create things when nothing’s there.
“I just say what’s he lacking? He had two years back-to-back where he was aggressive with his legs or aggressive with his arm, and didn’t turn the ball over. Runs aggressively, throws aggressively, and wasn’t a turnover nightmare.”
We’ll have to wait and see if NFL scouting departments — particularly that of the Washington Commanders, who pick second overall and need a quarterback — agree with Kiper’s assessment. Nonetheless, it’s high praise for the 2023 Heisman winner.
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