J.J. McCarthy’s NFL draft projection is all around the map. Right here’s what professional scouts are saying


Michigan Wolverines junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy could have an enormous choice to make after the season — return to Michigan for his senior yr or enter the 2024 NFL Draft.

McCarthy’s amassed a 25-1 report as Michigan’s QB1 and completed tenth in Heisman Trophy voting this season. McCarthy ranks extremely in a wide range of statistics after throwing for two,630 yards with 19 touchdowns and 4 interceptions this season, together with 146 yards dashing and three scores. McCarthy at present ranks third in ESPN’s Complete QBR metric (89.2), second within the nation in completion proportion (74.2) and sixth in passer ranking (170.3).

As a result of McCarthy is a dual-threat quarterback and has displayed regular accuracy and stellar arm power he’s destined to be the highest-drafted quarterback within the Jim Harbaugh period. Harbaugh, Michigan’s head coach, has referred to as McCarthy a generational expertise at quarterback for Michigan and even feels he’s “very very similar to Andrew Luck.”

McCarthy has but to determine if he’ll head to the professionals and says he’s solely centered on Alabama, however that hasn’t dissuaded analysts from placing McCarthy in mock drafts and draft rankings.

Right here’s a take a look at what scouts and pundits are saying about McCarthy.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper feels McCarthy’s a wild card and will drop to Day 2

“[An intriguing wild card at quarterback is] Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy, who has been some of the tough evaluations of this complete class,” Kiper mentioned. “He has the instruments to be within the combine for that No. 3 QB spot, however he simply didn’t persuade me down the stretch. The place had been the “wow” throws? I didn’t see him undergo progressions a lot. Certain, he solely had 4 interceptions, however three of these got here towards … Bowling Inexperienced? Plus, he wasn’t requested to beat groups together with his arm, partly as a result of the Wolverines blew out all of their opponents till November. It’s clear McCarthy has a ton of expertise, however not all NFL groups are going to be in love with him, which suggests he might drop to Day 2. I’ve him as my No. 7 QB proper now.”

Washington Publish NFL Insider Jason La Canfora is listening to McCarthy might go within the first spherical

It struck many individuals as odd how little he has been requested to throw the soccer because the Wolverines soared up the nationwide rankings and cruised to a Large Ten title. That was true even towards lesser applications; within the center stage of the season, McCarthy had 23 passing makes an attempt towards Maryland, 17 towards Indiana and 20 towards Minnesota. “However individuals actually like him,” the evaluator mentioned. “I hear what you’re saying, however they actually like him. I believe he goes [in the first round]. [Coach Jim] Harbaugh is aware of find out how to get him able to play up right here. He’s acquired the most effective traces within the nation and the most effective working video games within the nation. … So the coach needs to run the ball and play it protected. I don’t assume that may preserve him out of the primary spherical.”

ESPN draft analyst Matt Miler spoke with an NFL scout who in contrast McCarthy to Minnesota Vikings QB Kirk Cousins

who’s going to go increased than anybody thinks?” requested an AFC East scout final week by way of textual content. “J.J. McCarthy.”

The Michigan quarterback is cherished by scouts who’ve studied his recreation and have seen the junior passer throw in individual. McCarthy is environment friendly; he has posted a QBR of 89.2, good for third within the nation, whereas throwing 19 landing passes to 4 interceptions.

”I believe lots of people haven’t executed a deep dive on McCarthy but,” mentioned a scout who covers the Michigan space. “However after they do, he’s going to rise. He would dominate an occasion just like the Senior Bowl.”

The primary knock on McCarthy’s recreation this yr has extra to do with the Wolverines than his ability set. Michigan’s scheme doesn’t ask for lots of pure passing from him. The Wolverines run the ball early and infrequently, with McCarthy making an attempt solely 287 passes this season (77th within the FBS) and averaging 19.3 per recreation towards their three ranked opponents towards the top of the season. He didn’t try a single cross within the second half of a 24-15 win over Penn State in mid-November!

And since Michigan throws solely 44.5% of the time (124th out of 133 groups), McCarthy hasn’t been in a position to showcase his passing capacity to a excessive stage. That has led to questions the junior merely can’t reply on tape. He should depend on the pre-draft course of, ought to he declare for the draft. As of now, McCarthy sits at No. 19 total on my board, however he might completely rise as we get nearer to draft time.

”To me, he’s an athletic Kirk Cousins,” mentioned the Michigan area scout.

CBS Sports activities’ Ryan Wilson believes the playoffs will significantly affect McCarthy’s draft inventory

”J.J. McCarthy has the arm and open-field athleticism to be within the first-round dialog. And there are NFL groups that basically like these bodily instruments. However he must play with extra consistency than what we noticed this season at Michigan. Now a few of that may be a perform of enjoying in that offense, however he could also be requested to do extra now within the playoffs, and if he performs like quite a lot of us assume he’s succesful, he’ll pressure his means into the QB3 dialog.”

Conclusion

McCarthy returning to Michigan or coming into the draft might significantly hinge on how he performs towards Alabama, and whether or not Michigan makes the Nationwide Championship and wins all of it. As issues at present stand, it seems like there are at the very least three quarterbacks forward of McCarthy on draft boards — USC’s Caleb Williams, North Carolina’s Drake Maye and LSU’s Jayden Daniels. There are additionally a pair different quarterbacks who could possibly be chosen earlier than McCarthy, Oregon’s Bo Nix and Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. Briefly, there’s loads of expertise at quarterback on this draft class.

McCarthy, who turns 21 in January, may benefit by coming again to Michigan subsequent season to bulk up additional and add a bit extra seasoning to his recreation. That is the primary season McCarthy has weighed greater than 200 kilos — he’s at present listed at 6-foot-3 and 202 kilos and nonetheless wants so as to add weight to his body to soak up large hits. He places himself in hurt’s means too typically and takes pointless hits working the ball, and that might have devastating penalties within the NFL. McCarthy suffered an damage on a run in November towards Penn State and was lower than one hundred pc for the rest of the common season.

Professionals and cons to McCarthy’s recreation apart, if he’s a serious catalyst en path to a Michigan nationwide championship, it’s onerous to not see him declaring for the draft. Strike when the iron is scorching, particularly when there are extra quarterback-needy groups than regular within the NFL.

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