ESPN’s Mel Kiper believes that someone other than Drake Maye could be the No. 2 QB taken off the board for the loaded 2024 NFL Draft class, right behind USC’s Caleb Williams.
The USC Trojans star and 2022 Heisman Trophy winner is the consensus choice to be the first quarterback taken in April’s draft. The consensus No. 2 signal-caller is North Carolina’s Drake Maye, but Kiper believes it’s possible that we’ll see another QB go after Williams.
Speaking on ESPN’s “Monday Blitz” program (h/t Nick Kosko of On3.com), Kiper explained why LSU Tigers star and 2023 Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels could be taken off the board ahead of Maye:
“This is a monumental leap. 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.”
In his updated 2024 NFL Draft prospect rankings, Kiper has Williams and Maye ranked No. 1 and No. 3, respectively, with Daniels at No. 8. Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison is ranked No. 2, with Georgia Bulldogs tight end Brock Bowers holding the No. 4 spot.
Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze and Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders occupy the next two spots, with Penn State offensive tackle Olumuyiwa Fashanu ranked No. 7. Of course, it’s widely expected that Shedeur will return for another season of college football under his father, Deion Sanders.
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This season, Daniels put together a historic year that saw him throw for 3,812 yards and 40 touchdowns against four interceptions to go along with 1,134 rushing yards and 10 rushing scores.
