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Jayden Daniels NFL mock draft: LSU football QB tabbed No. 2 overall pick by Mel Kiper

zac al-khateeb, usa today network
·2 min read

Even without participating in this week's combine in Indianapolis, LSU football's Jayden Daniels has seen his stock rise ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft.

ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. on Wednesday tabbed the Heisman-winning quarterback as the No. 2 QB to be taken in April's draft — and the No. 2 overall player. Kiper, who did not include trades as part of his mock, has Daniels going to the NFL's Washington Commanders, replacing former North Carolina QB Sam Howell as the team's potential franchise quarterback.

If Kiper's projection is correct and Daniels is drafted No. 2 overall, he will get to work with recent offensive coordinator hire Kliff Kingsbury, who spent the 2023 season as a senior offensive analyst at USC. Kingsbury, of course, has worked with numerous talented quarterbacks, including Patrick Mahomes II at Texas Tech, Kyler Murray with the Arizona Cardinals and, most recently, presumptive No. 1 pick Caleb Williams with the Trojans.

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Jayden Daniels stats

Daniels' dual-threat ability could make him an enticing option for the Commanders, Kingsbury and new head coach Dan Quinn. He is coming off a season in which he completed 236 of 327 passes (72.2%) for 3,812 yards and 40 touchdowns to just four interceptions. He also rushed 135 times for 1,134 yards (8.4 yards per attempt) and 10 more scores.

Daniels led college football in numerous major statistical offensive categories in 2023:

  • Passing yards per attempt (11.7)

  • Adjusted passing yards per attempt (13.6)

  • Passer efficiency rating (206.0)

  • Rushing yards per attempt (8.4)

  • Total yards (4,946)

  • Total yards per play (10.7)

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Jayden Daniels NFL mock drafts

Daniels is a consensus top-five pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, per several industry leaders' mocks. The players who are most often included in the top five include Williams, Daniels, North Carolina QB Drake Maye and Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.

Below is where Daniels is projected to land in the 2024 NFL Draft, per several recent mocks:

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Jayden Daniels NFL mock draft: LSU football QB tabbed No. 2 overall pick