The Washington Commanders appear poised to select a quarterback at No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL draft. That’s not a surprise, although some have speculated Washington general manager Adam Peters would be willing to listen to offers.
Listening to offers for the second overall pick would be good business in a normal year. Not in 2024. The Commanders have been looking for a franchise quarterback for what seems like decades. And it’s not often you hold the No. 2 overall pick in a draft that features three top quarterback prospects.
The Minnesota Vikings need a quarterback, too. Minnesota recently acquired a second first-round pick (No. 11 and No. 23) in hopes of enticing Washington (No. 2) or New England (No. 3) to move down. Chicago isn’t an option for the Vikings as the Bears appear set on USC quarterback Caleb Williams, and they’d never trade with a hated division rival for a quarterback.
North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye is believed to be Minnesota’s desired choice. Vikings quarterback coach Josh McCown coached Maye in high school. However, for Minnesota to land Maye, it would need to go as high as No. 2.
Don’t count on that, says Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated.
Inquiries with the Bears, Commanders and Patriots at the combine didn’t go very far—none of the three were willing to move, at least not at that early juncture.
In his latest mailbag this week, Breer reiterated that stance.
I’d say the Minnesota Vikings move to No. 4 for J.J. McCarthy, but that’s not to say they prefer the Michigan quarterback (though they might, I don’t know one way or the other). It’s because of what it sure seems like is going to happen within the top three. And at this point, my information, and we reported this in my Kirk Cousins story Monday, is that teams that have tried to trade into that range have been met with polite no’s from the Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders and New England Patriots.
Washington is in an excellent position. Sure, having the No. 1 overall pick would’ve been even better, but just imagine if the Commanders had won one of those meaningless late-season games. As it currently stands, Washington will decide between Jayden Daniels or Maye.