Jayden Daniels 2024 NFL Draft Profile
Quarterbacks are expected to lead the way at the top of the 2024 NFL Draft. Where does Jayden Daniels stand among that group? That’s what we’re here to talk about so let’s review the LSU quarterback’s 2024 NFL Draft Profile!
We know the track record of quarterbacks when it comes to the draft. Taking them in the first round is risky business. Odds are two of the top-end guys are going to fail. Michael Penix Jr. is a non-starter for me and you can read more why here. Daniels is the other I’d be terrified of picking. If I’m turning the card in for Daniels on draft day, I’m nervous when I go to sleep that night. I have Daniels rated higher than Penix but there are serious red flags that can’t be ignored.
Daniels, 24 in December, is among that group of transfer portal quarterbacks. What should we make of Daniels? What if he never had the opportunity to leave Arizona State? It’s almost a double edged sword with Daniels. Showed so much promise right away as a freshman. That game against Oregon battling against Justin Herbert can’t be ignored. Then he laid an egg the next two years after. Again, I say this about JJ McCarthy. If Daniels declared for the draft at age 21, he would have been a 6th round pick and it’s not really an argument. Daniels junior season in 2021, he posted a 10-10 TD to INT ratio. Hashtag… not great.
The judgment stuff with Daniels is just so concerning. Nobody loves getting railed more than Daniels. All you have to do is do a quick YouTube search on Daniels taking big hits. He’s literally a moron with some of this stuff. Has no idea how to slide. Lets himself get murdered all the time. Go search for that stuff yourself and then try to tell me I’m overreacting. He’s taken way too many big hits in college and most of them have been avoidable.
The San Bernadino, California native saved his draft stock at LSU. His accuracy took a huge step forward. 68.6% in 2022 and 72.2% in 2023. Of course, Daniels won the Heisman in 2023 along with a number of other accolades including Walter Camp Player of the Year, Davey O’Brien Award, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, First-team Associated Press All-American, SEC Offensive Player of the Year, and First-team All-SEC.
Former four star player but was rated the number one duel-threat guy in his class. Could have went to a bigger school than Arizona State but Herm Edwards reeled him in. Didn’t work out at the Combine so no access to any of those measurables.
2023 was Daniels’ best season. It sure helps to have the option to have two first round picks at wide receiver too with Malik Nabers in Brian Thomas. Regardless, Daniels led FBS with 11.7 yards per pass attempt and 8.4 yards per rush. He’s a true duel threat quarterback posting a 40-4 TD to INT ratio last year. That’s while rushing for 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground.
Daniels is more similar to Lamar Jackson than anyone wants to admit. Especially the early days of the Lamar career. Both skinny slinky frames. Both on the taller end. Daniels checks in at 6-foot-4, 210 (even though he’s really not 210. Had a serious beer gut trying to pack on weight at the Pro Day). Also, didn’t run at the Pro Day for obvious reasons after packing on weight for it. Both are threats in the run game who lack self-awareness. Both operate best throwing the ball in the middle of the field. Lamar has more arm power than Daniels but Daniels is ahead of him in terms of executing throws down the field.
Daniels was featured several times in the Stock Report notes. Really dominant against Mississippi State but almost anyone would have been who was capable. Got drilled by Dallas Turner and knocked out of the Alabama game. During the Stock Report series, I’ve never been overly impressed. Mostly because I just think that Garrett Nussmeier is a better pure thrower of the football than he is. The Bowl game against Wisconsin, Nussmeier went 31/45 for 395 yards, three touchdowns, and one pick.
Keep in mind, outside of a weird blowout win over Georgia Southern, Wisconsin did not give up a 300 yard passer all year. It was just Nussmeier. In fact, the only quarterback that crossed 250 yards against Wisconsin last year was Cam Ward.
What if Nussmeier is better? How much of the success at LSU was because of the two stud receivers? How much of it was the coaching? I’ll let you draw your own conclusions but I’m on the side of the receivers and the environment made Daniels look better than he really is. I saw that because of two major concerns.
A: His pure ball placement is not great. When you watch, I think there are numerous examples you can search for where Nabers and Thomas make great plays with less-than-ideal ball placement.
B: His eye level is terrible. You can see LSU put a great plan in place for Daniels. High to low reads. Made life really easy for him. Look high, look low, take off and run. That was the script. He got better this year reading things out but still way too many times where he’s looking at the rush panicking looking to run. His offensive line was super dominant but it was more than capable. Also has this weird dumb trait to do these fadeaway cheese throws that just look awful and won’t work at the NFL level. Gotten way better reading the field but his eye level is just not good.
There needs to be a plan put in place for the team that drafts Daniels. Get him targets to make easy throws in the middle of the field. Has the ability to make throws deep but it’s not elite arm power. Needs to be told to stop taking big hits. One thing that Daniels deserves credit for. He’s clearly improved and has the requisite number of college starts you look for. Him getting on the field right away is a great sign. Didn’t have an all world showing at the Elite 11 but was good enough to be invited. Since those 11 Elite days, he’s way better in the footwork department. Much better as he got older using his back foot to throw.
I have a second / third round grade on Jayden Daniels. There are just too many red flags for me to pull the trigger at the top of the draft. I understand why his rushing ability makes him intriguing but the idea that he’s going to carry a team. I just don’t see it. Can turn into a capable starter but not sure he’s good enough to overcome being placed in a dysfunctional environment. Lamar Jackson got lucky with the Ravens. Daniels will need something similar.
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