QB-needy Washington pondering No. 2 pick in draft
Every NFL fan seems to know that the Chicago Bears, who own the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft, are all but certain to select quarterback Caleb Williams of USC when the event begins April 25 in Detroit.
But who will the Washington Commanders select with the No. 2 choice?
General Manager Adam Peters keeps insisting all options are on the table, but rival executives are skeptical he will do anything but “stick and pick” the best quarterback available.
Last season’s starter, Sam Howell, was dealt to Seattle.
Four people with knowledge of the league’s inner workings said they would be very surprised if Peters traded down.
“Why would you when you have a chance to draft a franchise quarterback?” one of those people said.
In 2017, two of those people pointed out, the
San Francisco 49ers had the No. 2 pick and needed a quarterback, but they passed on the top of the class, including Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson. They started the season 0-9, traded for Jimmy Garoppolo and — even though they still built a talented team in the long run — ended up looking for a franchise quarterback for years. It’s a search that Peters, a former 49ers executive, probably wants to avoid repeating.
Peters has remained tight-lipped and pokerfaced, and last week at the owners meetings in Orlando he said the team is still “far from our answer.” Peters and coach Dan Quinn planned to pro days for LSU’s Jayden Daniels and North Carolina’s Drake Maye, and probably will host all of the top quarterbacks for visits.
If Peters does trade down, a person with another team said, he almost certainly would stay in range for a top quarterback — so probably no further than No. 4 or No. 5.
Peters would have to be confident that Maye and Daniels, the consensus top prospects behind Williams, wouldn’t become stars, because he’s under great pressure to find the best guy.
“We can have a big impact if we make the right selection,” managing partner Josh Harris said.
The Commanders on Monday announced the signing of wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus and running back Jeremy McNichols. Zaccheaus, 26, joins his third team in three years. He caught 10 passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns in 17 games (one start) for Philadelphia last season.McNichols, 28, has bounced around since being drafted by Tampa Bay in the fifth round in 2017. He made three appearances on special teams with San Francisco last season.
ELSEWHERE
Reddick deal official:
The Philadelphia Eagles finalized the trade of twotime Pro Bowl outside linebacker Haason Reddick to the New York Jets.
In exchange, the Eagles received a conditional third-round draft pick in 2026 that could rise to a second-round selection if the veteran pass-rusher reaches certain performance metrics.
Earlier reports said Reddick, 29, is expected to sign a long-term contract with New York.
Reddick, a Pro Bowl selection in 2022 and
2023, fills a void at edge rusher for the Jets after they lost Bryce Huff in free agency to the Eagles.
Cornerback surrenders: Former Detroit Lions cornerback Cameron Sutton turned himself in to authorities in Hillsborough County, weeks after “evading law enforcement” on a charge of domestic violence, authorities said.
Sutton showed up at the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office on Sunday and was booked in Tampa. An arrest warrant was issued March 7 on allegations of aggravated battery-domestic violence.
“After weeks of evading law enforcement, this man has finally made the right choice to turn himself in,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement. “Domestic violence has no place in our community, and no one is above the law here in Hillsborough County.”
He is facing a thirddegree felony charge of domestic battery by strangulation.
The Lions released Sutton a day after authorities announced they were looking for him.
Sutton, 29, joined the Lions last season on a three-year, $33 million deal signed in March 2023 after six seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who drafted him in the third round in 2017.
Sutton, who played college football at Tennessee, started all 17 regular-season games with the Lions, posting 65 tackles, an interception, one forced fumble and six passes defensed.
He started Detroit’s three playoff games as well.