Jayden Daniels (LSU) or Drake Maye (UNC) at No. 2 overall?
That’s apparently the question for the Washington Commanders over the next 10 days. Local podcaster Al Galdi asked one former NFL scout and current draft analyst last week.
Matt Manocherian, the Senior Vice President of Football and Data Analytics for Sports Info Solutions and a former scout for the New Orleans Saints and Cleveland Browns, didn’t hesitate to answer which of the two quarterbacks he liked best and why.
“What I love about him (Maye) is his ability to get the ball down the field, down the seams, accurately, and really on a line”, responded Manocherian. He is able to make what we call a ‘level-two throw.’”
“The special arm, the size, the athleticism that he brings to the table, and he is three years removed from high school…he has only played 20 games of college, so there is a lot more growth that can be expected when you look at Maye.”
“I love Maye because I love the upside there,” explained Manocherian.
What does Manocherian think of LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels?
“Daniels is somebody who has been around the block a little bit. What he did this year was statistically at the top of college football. A really good athlete, but I think this is a player who is a one or two-read quarterback and then bring it down.”
“I think you get a high floor with a player like that (Daniels) because of the athleticism and then you are going to live to see another down. You get him in the right position, I think he can become a good player, but I don’t think he has the upside of a Drake Maye, based on the arm talent Maye has and I think the remaining meat-on-the-bone in terms of development.”
Galdi then proceeded to ask Manocherian about a criticism of Maye: He is guilty of missing too many layups and underneath passes.
Manocherian responded, “When I was taught by Sean Payton to evaluate quarterbacks, he said that the most important thing is that the quarterback can make the ball go where he wants it to go. That is true, and Coach Payton was right about that.”
Manocherian summed up his evaluating process by saying, “What do I really care about? It’s not making the easy throws but the ability to make the difficult throws. Because I don’t know very many quarterbacks who can throw a 25-yard out the way Drake Maye can or can put that 8 post right on the guy’s front shoulder pad.”
“But I would be lying to you if I didn’t say there is any risk when you talk about someone who has had lapses in accuracy.”
There was more; here is the entire conversation between Galdi and Manocherian.