It is expected for Caleb Williams to be taken with the first-overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on Thursday.

What we don’t know is the direction the Washington Commanders will go. We know that new General Manager Adam Peters will zero in on a quarterback. What we do not know is which player Washington will take — Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye. Recently, a third option has emerged.

J.J. McCarthy has long been viewed as the fourth quarterback prospect. With the draft just three days away, odds have completely shifted toward McCarthy becoming the second-overall pick.

On Monday, McCarthy currently sits at 9/1 to be selected by the Commanders, according to FanDuel. This is way down from 20/1 over the weekend.

So, why is the overall reason for the change?

In recent weeks, Daniels has become the favorite to be taken second-overall. This comes after months of speculation where Daniels and Maye felt like they were on the same path. The Commanders hosted all prospects at once and took them out after meetings. There were rumors that Daniels and his representation did not like this process and he wold prefer to play elsewhere.

If this is the case, it would behoove Washington to go elsewhere. This is a franchise that has gone through a complete overhaul in ownership and in the front office. Dan Quinn is the new head coach and the reshape of the team will be complete with what the Commanders hope is a franchise quarterback.

McCarthy helped Michigan finish 15-0 on its way to a National Championship this season. The major critique has been his lack of performance in certain spots. McCarthy was not asked to do much for a Wolverine team with a dominant defense and strong rushing attack. He showed off mobility and a strong arm with great accuracy. All of the intangibles are there for McCarthy but can he lead an NFL franchise? Especially one desperate for that franchise answer under center.

Peters and the new regime in Washington have kept things under wraps since taking over. This means that any rumor out there is likely speculation and not coming directly from a source. With that being said, Commander fans will have to wait until the pick is announced on Thursday night to know who their next franchise quarterback will be.