The former Michigan football starting quarterback is going to be a first-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft according to experts like Mel Kiper Jr.
J.J. McCarthy had an incredible career with Michigan football, posting a 27-1 record as a starting quarterback. Not only did he lead the Wolverines to a national championship but he was also part of three Big Ten championship teams and three wins over Ohio State.
McCarthy will forever be known as a Michigan football legend. As Jim Harbaugh said, he’s the greatest Michigan quarterback of all time (in college football). There’s absolutely no disputing that.
However, J.J. McCarthy’s NFL draft stock has been a topic of discussion. He will undoubtedly be selected in the first round of the draft. Here are some things Mel Kiper Jr. stated about the former Michigan football starter on the “First Draft” podcast with Field Yates. There is still a lot of discussion regarding where he is in the QB hierarchy for the 2024 class.
“When you consider our current situation with J.J., where are we? “I believe he is quarterback four,” Kiper Jr. stated. “I believe he is the No. 4 quarterback.” He is in front of both Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr.
Kiper projected McCarthy to get selected by the Denver Broncos who have the No. 12 overall pick in April’s draft. However, I find it difficult to imagine McCarthy remaining on the board for so long. Unless the Bears elect to hold onto Justin Fields, every team in the top three of the NFL draft needs a quarterback.
Though the Falcons, Jets, and Vikings all need quarterbacks, it’s feasible that one of those clubs passes on McCarthy. At some point, though, you have to invest in the future, and McCarthy, at age 21, has a ton of upside.
I still believe McCarthy ends up in the top-10, and he could have been the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft if he had returned to Michigan football.
