Despite his remarkable season as the quarterback for the national title-winning Michigan Wolverines, JJ McCarthy’s standing as a top 10 prospect in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft remains a subject of debate.
However, ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. holds a different perspective, expressing confidence that McCarthy will still secure a high pick.
In his initial mock draft for the 2024 offseason, Kiper acknowledges that he doesn’t personally classify McCarthy as a first-round talent. Nonetheless, he anticipates that a team in need of a quarterback will recognize McCarthy’s potential and select him in the first round based on that promise.
As a result, Kiper’s prediction places McCarthy as the 16th overall pick in the draft, with the Seattle Seahawks as the team making the selection.
“OK, here’s a spot for the next quarterback. While I don’t have a first-round grade on McCarthy right now — a lot can change before Round 1 on April 25 — he does have first-round arm talent, along with the ability to beat defenses with his legs. He’s the type of quarterback teams will take a shot at in the middle of the first round, especially when you consider he just turned 21 a few days ago. He rarely turns the ball over — he threw 44 touchdown passes and had nine picks over the past two seasons — and can make every throw. McCarthy just wasn’t asked to beat teams with his arm for the Wolverines, because they so often dominated at the line of scrimmage. As of now, I’m betting on a team seeing his upside and trying to take him somewhere in the teens.”
Kiper further speculates that if an NFL franchise, such as the Atlanta Falcons, were to hire Jim Harbaugh from Michigan, McCarthy might find himself as the team’s first-round choice.
JJ McCarthy has certainly left his mark in Michigan team history, ranking among the top 10 for passing. In the previous season, he achieved an impressive 72.3% completion rate, accumulating 2,991 passing yards and 22 touchdowns, all while committing just four interceptions.
These achievements played a pivotal role in the Wolverines’ flawless 15-0 season and national title victory.
Nevertheless, history has shown that winning collegiate national titles doesn’t guarantee success in the NFL, as numerous quarterbacks have faltered at the professional level.
The looming question remains: will McCarthy live up to his draft position, or will his selection be perceived as a reach? Only time will reveal the answer.
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