ESPN NFL Draft insider Mel Kiper has tipped Jayden Daniels to go very early in the first round following his impressive campaign at LSU in 2023.
The 2024 class is replete with high-level quarterbacks, including Daniels, USC’s Caleb Williams, and UNC’s Drake Maye. The likes of Washington’s Michael Penix Jr., Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy, and Oregon’s Bo Nix are also set to make things interesting after declaring for the draft.
Williams is expected to go No. 1 overall while Maye is favored to go in right behind him. Kiper reckons the Heisman Trophy winner will be the next quarterback taken off the board and will also be a top-five pick as the similarities to Ravens star Lamar Jackson will be too attractive for teams to ignore.
“You think about where we are now? Jayden Daniels, because of Lamar Jackson, is now a top-five pick – guaranteed,” Kiper said, per On3.
“I think how far do you want to move up Jayden? I think your comps are always something that we factor in a little bit. You mention Lamar Jackson – the 32nd pick, passed over by Arizona for Josh Rosen. Think about that? Josh Rosen went way, way ahead of Lamar Jackson.”
“You think about what Russell Wilson meant to Kyler Murray and Bryce Young? Showing you the 5’10 quarterback and having a successful, Super Bowl-winning career? All this opens up opportunities for guys coming in future years.”
Daniels passed for 3,818 yards, 40 touchdowns, and just four interceptions en route to his Heisman capture. He also registered 135 carries for 1,134 rushing yards, and another 10 touchdowns on the ground.
Who knows? Kiper might just be proven right.
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We’ll see what happens when the draft kicks off with its first night on April 25.
