Mel Kiper evaluates if Jayden Daniels can become 'QB2' behind Caleb Williams in NFL Draft

Jayden Daniels won the Heisman Trophy and he’ll certainly see his NFL Draft stock increase by a large margin.

The question is though, how high can he climb up the board? ESPN’s Mel Kiper has Daniels No. 8 overall on his prospect board, with USC quarterback Caleb Williams as the No. 1 overall prospect.

Kiped joined ESPN’s Monday Blitz to evaluate the prospect of Daniels going even higher on the draft board.

“This is a monumental leap,” Kiper said. “Can he get over Drake Maye … Now you think about Caleb Williams, I think it’s pretty locked in. He’s gonna be the first quarterback off the board. Could he challenge, to your point Booger, to be the No. 2 quarterback? Yes, he could because I know the more you watch, and we know about dual threat quarterbacks and when you see Lamar Jackson doing as John Harbaugh said he’s unique to the position, Jayden Daniels brings that same type as Randall Cunningham as who Herm compared him to. 

“You look at Lamar Jackson, what he’s doing with the Baltimore Ravens a franchise quarterback, so for Jayden, I think the big thing is especially protecting the football the way he did to strike that balance to be aggressive, to let it rip, to run the way he did, to elude, evade and run through contact the way he did, yet not turn the ball over is really impressive.” 

Jayden Daniels could vault up NFL Draft even more

Jayden Daniels had a career year, leading LSU to a 9-3 record and becoming only the third quarterback to win the Heisman despite three losses. But he did all he could on the field.

Daniels finished with 3,812 yards, 40 touchdowns, four interceptions, a 72.2% completion percentage, 1,134 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns.

“So he’s done everything possible to enhance where he is right now,” Kiper said. “And to take this monumental leap up the board to No. 8 is phenomenal. It speaks to him going back. That was a decision (Jayden Daniels) had to make and he had talked to a lot of people … and he made that call. He made an incredible decision, Heisman Trophy, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and now possibly a top 10 pick maybe even at that two, three, four spot. 

“That’s why kids that are watching and say ‘Oh, I’m gonna come out.’ Why? Why come out early? You know, go back, play. Experience is the best teacher and that was way it worked out for Jayden Daniels.”