(Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images)

It sounds like the Washington Commanders are inching closer to a decision on who they’ll select with the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

With the Chicago Bears trading Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers last week, the NFC North club is expected to use the No. 1 selection (courtesy of the Carolina Panthers) on USC QB Caleb Williams. Barring any surprises, the Washington Commanders will choose between LSU’s Jayden Daniels or North Carolina’s Drake Maye.

Speaking on NBC Sports Boston’s “Arbella Early Edition” program, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported that Daniels is currently the front-runner to go second overall:

“The more I’ve started to ask around, the more it seems like Jayden Daniels is probably the leader in the clubhouse to be a Commander. It does match up with what Kliff Kingsbury’s looked for in his quarterbacks over the years. Obviously, Jayden Daniels had a great season last season at LSU.

He’s probably, I think, arguably, the most ready to play of the three guys at the top of the draft because he’s played the most football…I think right now…Jayden Daniels is the leader in the clubhouse to be the second overall pick.”

For a while, Maye was the heavy favorite to be the No. 2 pick behind Williams. But Daniels delivered a historic final season at LSU and has boosted his draft stock in recent weeks, to the point where it sounds like he’ll be the next quarterback of the Commanders.

Last season, Daniels threw for 3,812 yards and 40 touchdowns against only four interceptions to go along with 1,134 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns on the ground.

The last time the Commanders held the No. 2 pick was in 2020, and they used it on Ohio State pass-rusher Chase Young. Hindsight is 20/20, but the Commanders missed out on the chance to draft two future superstar quarterbacks in Justin Herbert and Tua Tagovailoa.

The Commanders will most certainly take a quarterback with the No. 2 pick this time around. The only question now is if it’ll be Williams or Maye.

Brighter Days Are Ahead For The Washington Commanders

Last season, the only real positive for the Washington Commanders was the fact that Josh Harris had replaced Dan Snyder in the ownership chair. Otherwise, it was another frustrating season for this long-struggling franchise.

But with a new GM-head coach tandem in Adam Peters and Dan Quinn, the Washington Commanders are on the right path to contending again. They’ve already done well in free agency and will soon land a promising QB prospect to save the franchise.

Whether it’s Daniels or Maye, the bottom line is that the Commanders will enter next season with so much excitement and promise. Better days are ahead for the long-suffering fanbase.