Analysts, insider disagree about Commanders possibly drafting J.J. McCarthy

ESPN NFL insider Field Yates is among those not buying that the Washington Commanders could spend the No. 2 pick of the 2024 draft on Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy rather than on Jayden Daniels of the LSU Tigers or North Carolina Tar Heels signal-caller Drake Maye. 

"While we have all been around long enough to never say never, my belief is that the second pick in the draft will be Daniels or Maye," Yates said for a piece published Friday. "McCarthy will not have to wait long to hear his name called and has had a very impressive spring after an excellent season leading Michigan to a national championship, but I do not believe he will wind up at No. 2."

Fellow ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter has repeatedly linked Daniels with the Commanders at the second pick despite the reported rising draft stock of McCarthy. 

However, ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller remains convinced that Washington could surprise many in the football community on the night of April 25. 

"I remember the 2018 draft all too well, when every pundit expected Sam Darnold or Josh Allen to be selected No. 1 overall," Miller explained in Friday's article. "Then 24 hours before the first round kicked off, news circulated that Baker Mayfield would be the pick. My point is teams do things differently than we all would and make surprise selections every single year." 

Miller added that he "can't rule out the possibility that Washington has fallen in love with McCarthy following his pro day and its time spent with him individually." 

The McCarthy hype has gotten so real that some seemingly have forgotten that Washington could take Maye after the Chicago Bears probably make USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams the draft's first pick. 

In mock drafts updated this week, Josh Edwards and Tom Fornelli of CBS Sports predicted the Commanders will select Maye and let the New England Patriots decide Daniels' future at pick No. 3. 

Meanwhile, Jordan Reid of ESPN said for Friday's piece he believes Washington is facing a Daniels-versus-Maye conundrum. 

"McCarthy has created a ton of intrigue throughout the league during the pre-draft process, but the No. 2 overall pick is still seen as too high for such an inexperienced passer," Reid noted. "He has less than half of the career pass attempts of Daniels and played in a run-heavy Michigan offense." 

Outsiders can only guess if McCarthy truly "may be QB1" for both Washington and New England heading into the second weekend of April. 

The only thing that appears certain about the Commanders' draft plans is that they won't be trading pick No. 2 to acquire assets needed for their ongoing rebuild.