Commanders are in line to take a quarterback with the NFL draft’s 2nd pick

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) 鈥� The previous time Washington had the second pick in the NFL draft, the previous regime passed on taking a quarterback who as a local product could have been the face of the franchise.

That out, and now the with different people in charge and a big decision to make. Expecting Chicago to take with the first pick, the Commanders are expected to draft their QB of the future Thursday night, choosing between Jayden Daniels, North Carolina’s and Michigan’s national champion in the hopes of finally finding the organization’s solution at the most important position in football.

鈥淲e鈥檙e real close (to deciding),鈥� said Thursday. 鈥淚 will say this also: You don鈥檛 really need to make a decision until you need to make a decision, so there鈥檚 no rush with that. But I think we鈥檒l have a pretty good idea what we鈥檙e doing early next week.鈥�

Trading down and stockpiling assets could have been an option for Washington given the holes to fill all over a roster being overhauled from top to bottom, but that doesn’t seem to be in the cards.

鈥淲e feel great about staying at No. 2,鈥� Peters said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 see a whole lot of scenarios where we trade down, to be honest with you. Yeah, we feel great about sticking there.鈥�

Whether it鈥檚 a rookie, or , Washington will have an eighth different Week 1 starting QB in as many seasons, following the to Seattle. Daniels is the favorite, according to , with Maye next and longer odds for McCarthy.

鈥淚f they choose quarterback, we鈥檒l get one of the elite guys,鈥� top receiver Terry McLaurin said. 鈥淥bviously, I don鈥檛 know. They don鈥檛 ask me. My job is when they get here to kind of help bring them along as much as I can because we鈥檒l go as far as the quarterback goes.鈥�

NEEDS

This is a crucial draft for the short and long-term future, given the Commanders’ many needs all over offense and defense.

Offensive line, particularly left tackle, is the biggest void after two-year starter Charles Leno. Trading up for a second first-round pick, which Peters acknowledged was possible, could help Washington get Oregon State鈥檚 Taliese Fuaga, Alabama鈥檚 JC Latham or Penn State鈥檚 Olu Fashanu 鈥� all considered first-round prospects.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 pretty universally known it鈥檚 a really good tackle class, a deep tackle class,鈥� Peters said. 鈥淲e got a chance to visit with a lot of them. … We鈥檙e really excited about that group.”

But even if Washington uses the second pick on a QB, it has five more on Day 2: Nos. 36 and 40 in round 2 and Nos. 67, 78 and 100 in round 3.

鈥淭he quality of the picks, at the top of the rounds, just the real high quality level of the picks, especially those top six, really allow us to make a dramatic impact on our roster right away,鈥� assistant GM Lance Newmark said.

Wide receiver with , cornerback with and safety with are all positions worth watching for. Oh, and trading 2020 No. 2 pick Chase Young and Montez Sweat last season left the Commanders with a dearth of talent on the edge.

DON鈥橳 NEED

Defensive tackle is set with Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne and Phidarian Mathis providing plenty of bulk inside on the trenches. Peters has said he’s not interested in trading Allen, a respected veteran and captain for just two more years and has expressed a desire not to go through another rebuild.

Linebacker also could be set after and bringing in Frankie Luvu, though depth at the position with a late-round selection is certainly possible, especially to help on special teams.

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