Jayden Daniels Still Making His Case To Be NFL Draft's First Overall Pick And It's Close

INDIANAPOLIS – Practically any other year and in any other NFL draft, Jayden Daniels could be the first overall pick. And he still might be.

That's according to two NFL personnel men who spoke with OutKick at the NFL Scouting Combine this week on condition of anonymity.

One of them, a general manager whose team is picking outside the top 10 selections and has "no dog in the fight," said the tape of Daniels and Caleb Williams both speak of players who will start immediately in 2024.

"That's not a question with them," he said. "But what I see is one of those guys is more capable in the pocket. One of them feels more at ease and makes more plays playing from the pocket. And the thing people don't understand is that to win big in the NFL, you still need a quarterback that can be dynamic from the pocket because good defenses will scheme the pass rush to keep your quarterback in the pocket.

"And Jayden Daniels, in my opinion, is better from the pocket than Caleb Williams. Don't get me wrong, Williams has some Patrick Mahomes qualities to him outside the pocket. He makes some unholy throws. But he seems to like doing that more than staying in there and playing pitch and catch, which an NFL quarterback has to do consistently to move the chains."

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 10: Jayden Daniels attends Michael Rubin's Fanatics Super Bowl party at the Marquee Nightclub at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on February 10, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Comfort Level With Daniel At No. 1

That's a lot. But that's not all.

"Daniels is going to deal with durability questions because of his build compared to Caleb and definitely compared to Drake Maye," an NFL personnel director said. "But he makes you defend the entire field and when he's got nothing downfield, or it breaks down, he can get out of there and use his legs. His speed is a weapon.

"I'd be comfortable taking him No. 1, everything else being equal."

And here's why this combine is so important for Daniels and Williams and, yes, even Drake Maye: None will throw on Saturday when other quarterbacks – including Michael Penix Jr., J.J. McCarthy, Bo Nix and Spencer Rattler – are doing exactly that.

But all three have met and spent time this week with the Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders and New England Patriots. And that is where these teams will begin to get a feel for what makes these quarterbacks tick and who they are as people.

One thing teams should know about Daniels is the idea of going first overall doesn't drive him.

"Being viewed as the number one overall pick, the number one overall player, that doesn’t hold a lot of significance for me," Daniels said in Indy. 

For more insight into who he is, Daniels also said, "I want people to get to know me when I’m outside my helmet. I’m big on faith. I’m passionate about what I do. And football is very important to me."

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 27: Director of scouting Eliot Wolf of the New England Patriots speaks to the media during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on February 27, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Understanding The Prospect Is Important

In the interviews here, at pro days and at meals before or after private workouts, that's where team personnel will get a gauge on personalities, leadership and mental toughness.

That is where the teams will look for traits necessary for an NFL quarterback.

"I don't know how important this week is for [mental toughness] specifically, but I think it's about talking to the right people and asking the right questions and when we meet with them asking the right questions," said Patriots director of scouting Eliot Wolf. "And that may be here in a formal interview or that may be, you know, at a later date at the pro day or wherever that may be. But we have to determine, you know, who can handle being the quarterback of the New England Patriots."

The Commanders are going through a similar exercise. And they are placing supreme value on the meetings they had with the quarterbacks, indeed with all their players, as new general manager Adam Peters gets ready for his first draft in Washington.

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 27: General manager Adam Peters of the Washington Commanders speaks to the media during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on February 27, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Commanders Look For Culture Fit

"That's a huge part of really any position is getting to know the person," Peters said. "That's where we've always found in scouting you make the biggest mistakes, more so on the person than the actual talent. 

"I think we're all here for a reason in terms of being talent evaluators, everybody on our staff. But understanding what makes the person tick and how they'll fit in your locker room and your particular culture is the biggest thing where you can make mistakes on."

This is a reason it's impossible to state the Bears will definitely take Caleb Williams at No 1. And it's wrong to guarantee the Commanders, holding the No. 2 overall pick and having Sam Howell on the roster, will definitely take Maye.

It may happen that way.

But to dismiss another scenario is simply speculating, because the evaluation process is not yet fully complete.

"What if Daniels absolutely blows away the Bears?" the personnel director said. "I've heard he's been interviewing great. Not good. Great. Well, what if the Bears feel that way? Or what if Caleb stumbles somehow? I doubt it, but what if?"

The message is clear: Don't discount Jayden Daniels going higher than his common media projection at No. 3. Because the pocket passer who is interviewing well might be able to deliver a rally atop the draft's first round.