Jayden Daniels reacts to Dan Orlovsky, Louis Riddick naming him best QB in 2024 NFL Draft

The quarterback conversation for the 2024 NFL Draft will end tonight once the clock officially starts in Detroit. It’s a debate that everyone has their own take on, including LSU’s Jayden Daniels who believes he’s the best in the class.

Daniels spoke about being the QB1 in this draft during an interview on ‘Get Up’ on Thursday morning. He said that he appreciates the praise from analysts and experts, such as ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky and Louis Riddick, who think that he’s at the top of his position. He just knows it too considering how competitive he is as a player.

“Man, just to receive the high praise from them, it’s a blessing,” said Daniels. “I’ll say any competitor says they’re the best until, you know. That’s just who I am as a competitor.”

“Even though there’s great players in there, I’m always going to bet on myself,” Daniels said.

The conversation of Caleb Williams versus Jayden Daniels versus Drake Maye has gone on throughout last season and over the course of this evaluation process. Williams has long held the lead as the expected No. 1 pick tonight. Still, Daniels and Maye have each had their own surges, including the former who now appears to be in the lead over the latter on draft day.

Daniels more than makes his case as the second quarterback in the class, if not the first in some ways. He’s coming off a Heisman Trophy-winning year where he posted nearly 5,000 yards of offense, 3,812 passing and 1,134 rushing at 10.1 per play, and 50 total touchdowns, 40 through the air and 10 on the ground. He did all that to end a five-year collegiate career where he appeared in 55 games as a full-time starter at both Arizona State and LSU.

It’s all but certain that Daniels will see his name go at No. 2 to Washington or No. 3 to New England rather than at No. 1 to Chicago. However, that doesn’t mean that he won’t keep continuing to push for that top spot as their professional careers begin tonight.

Jayden Daniels on what he’s heard from Washington Commanders at No. 2: ‘I ain’t got any assurance’

LSU QB Jayden Daniels saw his stock skyrocket during the NFL Draft evaluation process following his Heisman Trophy-winning season in Baton Rouge.

A majority of evaluators and most mock drafts project Daniels to be the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, selected by the Washington Commanders as they look to embark on a new era with changes in their front office and coaching staff. When Daniels made an appearance on ESPN’s Get Up on the morning of the draft, he was asked if he had any assurance from Washington that he would in fact be the draft’s second selection.

“Nah, I ain’t got any assurance,” Daniels said. “I don’t know what’s going to happen, I don’t know when I’m going to hear my name called or by who so we shall see.”

Mock drafts create a lot of buzz but, when it comes to the NFL Draft, there’s no such thing as guarantees.

The closest thing to one is USC QB Caleb Williams going with the No. 1 overall pick to the Chicago Bears. With other quarterback prospects like Drake Maye and JJ McCarthy also in the mix and numerous trade possibilities at the top of the draft, Daniels’ future as the No. 2 pick does come with a hint of uncertainty.

Rather than traditional one-on-one visits ahead of the draft, the Commanders conducted a 20-person visit that included Daniels and the other top quarterback prospects in this year’s draft – a decision that some believe shows that Washington is keeping their options open at the No. 2 pick. It was also a choice that Daniels’ agent Ron Butler showed some pushback towards, retweeting a ProFootballTalk conversation that was critical of the Commanders’ decision.

Still, Daniels made it clear that the franchise’s group visit did not bother him.

“Man, I control what I can control at the end of the day,” Daniels said. “I know those guys. We’re all very cool and it was a fun visit so there wasn’t anything to it. They decided to invite all of us up there. We’re just all blessed to be up there at the same time and to share that experience.”