With the No. 2 overall pick in Thursday night’s NFL Draft, the Washington Commanders selected quarterback Jayden Daniels out of LSU.
Daniels becomes the first LSU player selected in the first round since Derek Stingley Jr. was taken No. 3 overall by the Houston Texans in the 2022 NFL Draft. He is also the 50th player in program history taken in the first round of the NFL Draft.
Daniels won the Heisman Memorial Trophy last season as he threw for 3,812 yards, and completed 72.2 percent of his passes, with 40 touchdowns to only four interceptions. Daniels also rushed for 1,134 yards and scored 10 rushing touchdowns.
In two seasons playing for Brian Kelly with the Tigers, the 6-foot-4, 210-pound Daniels threw for 6,725 yards with 57 touchdowns to only seven interceptions, while also rushing for 2,019 yards and 21 rushing touchdowns.
In five seasons playing at Arizona State and LSU, Daniels threw for 12,749 yards, completing 66.3 percent, with 89 touchdowns to only 20 interceptions. He also rushed for 3,307 yards and 34 rushing touchdowns.
Daniels also becomes the sixth player in program history to be selected with either the first or second overall picks in the NFL Draft, joining Joe Burrow (No. 1 in 2020), JaMarcus Russell (No. 1 in 2007), Bert Jones (No. 2 in 1973), Jerry Stoval (No. 2 in 1963), and Billy Cannon (No. 1 in 1960).