Tag: JJ McCarthy

The latest 2024 NFL mock draft from PFF has the Vikings trading up for J.J. McCarthy (but not with the Patriots)

This would make a lot of sense.

It feels like the Minnesota Vikings are ready to make a deal for their quarterback of the future now that they have two first-round picks in 2024.

But which team will make a deal with them, if any of them will? And which QB will they target?

Our latest NFL mock draft from Christian D’Andrea has the Vikings taking Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy without having to trade up. But in the latest mock draft from PFF, Trevor Sikkema has the Vikings delivering Nos. 11, 23 and a third-rounder next year to get No. 4 and the right to grab McCarthy. Seems like the Patriots at No. 3 would also be a candidate, but they too need a QB.

Here’s Sikkema’s take:

The Vikings didn’t trade for the Texans’ No. 23 overall pick just to hear Roger Goodell say their name twice on Day 1. They’re eyeing a trade-up for their quarterback of the future and can now give a team picking in the top five an enticing deal. I ultimately think that is with the Arizona Cardinals. In doing so, Minnesota pairs the budding McCarthy with Kevin O’Connell, and McCarthy is put in a comfortable situation to not start right away with Sam Darnold also in the mix.

There you have it! Make sure to check out the latest NFL mock draft from Christian D’Andrea and the updated 2024 NFL draft order.

The latest 2024 NFL mock draft from USA Today has the Vikings trading up for J.J. McCarthy

This makes sense with Kirk Cousins gone.

Thanks to the first day of 2024 NFL free agency — check out our grades of every Day 1 move, plus a look at the winners and losers! — the draft is coming more into focus.

We now know which franchises need quarterbacks (seems like the Atlanta Falcons are OK on that position for now!), and even though the Minnesota Vikings signed Sam Darnold, they need a QB of the future.

In the latest NFL mock draft from our Christian D’Andrea, he has the Vikes taking Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy at No. 11. That fits in with what Michael Middlehurts-Schwartz wrote for the latest USA TODAY Sports mock — he has the Vikings actually trading up to No. 5 to grab him.

Here’s what he wrote:

Would Minnesota be content to trade to this spot knowing it might have to settle for its fourth choice to replace Kirk Cousins? Maybe a move wouldn’t be reasonable until draft day, when general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Co. could see how the top few picks panned out. But going with Sam Darnold as a bridge option to start off 2024 while sitting and developing McCarthy seems like a relatively sound strategy for an organization that suddenly has had change behind center thrust upon it.

Be sure to check out the latest post-combine NFL mock draft from Christian D’Andrea, plus the updated first-round order for April’s draft.

The latest 2024 NFL mock draft from USA Today has J.J. McCarthy in top-10, Drake Maye dropping

Could J.J. McCarthy now be a top-10 QB in the NFL Draft after the combine?

We have hit the post-NFL combine portion of mock draft season, and now the buzz about J.J. McCarthy has hit a fever pitch.

The Michigan QB looked good in Indy, and now it feels like projections have him locked into the first round … and maybe in the top 10. He wasn’t in our latest mock from Christian D’Andrea, but he may be in future FTW mocks.

In the latest mock from USA TODAY Sports, Nate Davis had McCarthy going No. 6 overall to the New York Giants — who may be intrigued by taking a QB if Daniel Jones isn’t the answer — and Drake Maye going No. 8 to the Atlanta Falcons.

Here’s his take on McCarthy:

Yes, despite his relatively low usage in the passing game at Ann Arbor – where he was surrounded by a tremendous supporting cast on both sides of the ball – his stock seems to continue skyrocketing. Why? Demeanor, accuracy, leadership, athleticism, high ceiling, good decision-making. And he’s a winner (27-1 record with the Wolverines). This situation would also make sense insomuch as McCarthy could sit and learn behind QB Daniel Jones, whom the Giants could more easily cut next year – or trade if he plays well in Year 2 of his four-season, $160 million contract.

That’s it! Make sure to check out Christian D’Andrea’s latest NFL mock draft.

Seahawks scouts share Jim Harbaugh joke with JJ McCarthy

Seahawks scouts make ‘Jim Harbaugh’ joke to JJ McCarthy

The annual scouting combine is well underway in Indianapolis. The Seattle Seahawks, like every team, is of course in attendance to meet with the top prospects in the 2024 NFL draft. One position Seattle should absolutely focus on is quarterback, and it seems they are doing so.

The Seahawks have apparently met with Michigan’s National Championship winning quarterback JJ McCarthy. During an interview, McCarthy did mention how Seattle’s scouts did crack a quick joke at him regarding the rivalry between his former head coach Jim Harbaugh and theirs, Pete Carroll.

Carroll and Harbaugh’s rivalry was legendary. It started in the (now former) Pac-12 when both men were the leaders at USC and Stanford, respectively. It followed them to the NFL when they were the top dogs for the Seahawks and 49ers. Carroll ultimately had the last laugh when he defeated Harbaugh in the 2013 NFC Championship en route to Seattle’s triumphant Super Bowl XLVIII victory two weeks later. Carroll ultimately edged Harbaugh out in the NFL with a 5-4 record, winning the last three-straight.

Interestingly, the Seahawks have met with McCarthy, and not Michael Penix Jr. of Washington. However, it is only Friday, and the Scouting Combine will last until Sunday.

More Seahawks Wire stories 

Seahawks prospect meeting tracker for 2024 Scouting Combine

Seahawks updated roster and depth chart going into 2024 free agency

Seahawks trade down, target QB of the future in 2-round mock

Geno Smith gets commitment from the Seahawks for 2024

J.J. McCarthy and Michael Penix Jr. delivered the best NFL combine highlights from … a hallway

The best NFL combine highlights came from … a hallway.

Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy and his Washington counterpart Michael Penix Jr. are among the quarterbacks who will reportedly throw in front of scouts at the 2024 NFL combine, unlike other stud QBs who will do it at their pro days.

But we already saw them show off their stuff … in a hallway.

I don’t know exactly where this is in Indianapolis — in the convention center, I’m guessing? — but it’s so fun to see them sling passes through the halls, with people casually watching. All I know is the NFL Network needs to be televising these along with the rest of the coverage.

Here you go:

2024 NFL draft: 3 potential backup quarterbacks to Justin Herbert for Chargers to watch at Combine

Here are a few quarterbacks expected to test well at the Combine who the Los Angeles Chargers could target to back up Justin Herbert.

The 2024 NFL Combine begins this week, with 321 prospects due to attend the event in Indianapolis.

The Chargers, along with the league’s other 31 teams, will use the results to solidify their draft board, bringing their plans for April into greater focus.

Here are four quarterbacks for Los Angeles to watch at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The latest 2024 NFL mock draft from The Ringer has the Falcons taking J.J. McCarthy in the top-10

Would you be happy with this, Falcons fans?

The drumbeat over how Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy could be a first-rounder is getting louder as the 2024 NFL Combine approaches. Maybe after that, he’s solidified as a Day 1 pick.

But … is he a top-10 pick? As in, would a QB-starved team go for him after, say, Drake Maye, Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels get taken? In the latest NFL mock draft from our Christian D’Andrea, he’s not in the first round. But in the mock draft from The Ringer, McCarthy isn’t just a first-round — he’s going No. 8 to the Atlanta Falcons, who definitely need a quarterback. Intriuging!

Here’s the reasoning from Benjamin Solak:

Do I like this? No. Are Falcons fans furious with me? Probably. I don’t know what you want! The league is telling us this is going to happen. There are rumors McCarthy will go in the top 15, and this is one of the landing spots that makes sense. McCarthy reads to me as a Purdy-like quarterback in a Shanahan/McVay system: He has a quick release and movement skills, so as long as he does what his play caller tells him to, he can make the system go and add a little scramble stuff on top.

Make sure to check out our latest post-Super Bowl mock from Christian D’Andrea!

The latest ESPN NFL Draft rankings has 4 QBs in the top 30 in 2024

Marvin Harrison Jr. is tops in the draft rankings … but four QBs are in the top 30.

The last time we read about ESPN’s 2024 NFL Draft rankings from Jordan Reid, we found out that the No. 1 prospect wasn’t a quarterback — it was Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who seems like a generational talent.

That wasn’t the biggest of surprises, given that teams draft for need and not always for talent. In the latest mock from our Christian D’Andrea, he has a quarterback at the top of the draft in North Carolina’s Drake Maye.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3011″ ]

But Reid has Harrison at the top again in his draft rankings, along with four QBs in the top 30: Maye, Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels … and Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy at No. 30:

McCarthy will be one of the most talked about prospects in this draft cycle. In a Michigan offense that leans on the run and incorporates play-action principles, he only reached 25 or more passing attempts in 12 of his 28 career starts. Scouts wanted to see more. That said, McCarthy displayed ball placement, anticipation and mobility when he has been allowed to throw the ball, outside of an uncharacteristically poor three-interception performance against Bowling Green early last season. His 88.2 QBR and 72.3% completion percentage were both top-six numbers in the country in 2023.

Make sure to check out Christian D’Andrea’s latest NFL mock draft.

The latest NFL mock draft from NFL.com has the Rams taking J.J. McCarthy

This would make sense for the Rams.

The first-round buzz surrounding Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy continues to grow louder.

We’ve seen multiple NFL mock drafts in recent weeks have the Wolverines QB going in the first round, although in the latest mock from our Christian D’Andrea, he’s not in the mix.

In Eric Edholm’s new mock from NFL.com, McCarthy is a first-round pick … and he’s going to the Los Angeles Rams in this scenario, which is intriguing given that Matthew Stafford is turning 36 later this week. It would make a lot of sense to have a young QB waiting in the wings at this point.

Here’s what Edholm had to say about the pick:

The Rams’ first first-round selection since they took Jared Goff at No. 1 overall is another quarterback — go figure. Matthew Stafford might be approaching the 17th green of his career, and McCarthy needs time to marinate his fascinating toolset. He’s a Midwest kid, but McCarthy has displayed some California cool in crunch time — and he’s savvy enough to digest Sean McVay’s system.

There you have it! Make sure to check out Christian D’Andrea’s latest NFL mock draft.

Rams select QB J.J. McCarthy in 1st round of NFL.com mock draft

A new mock draft from NFL.com has the Rams selecting QB J.J. McCarthy in Round 1, which would be a bold move

Matthew Stafford will return as the Rams’ starting quarterback in 2024, but there are major questions about who will back him up and who could replace him after he retires, whenever that may be. With that in mind, it’s entirely possible Les Snead and Sean McVay will select a quarterback in the first round of the draft this year.

There are other positions that need to be addressed, ones with more glaring holes, but quarterback is the most important position in sports and the Rams aren’t exactly set up for the future.

That’s why NFL.com’s Eric Edholm has them selecting a quarterback at No. 19 overall in his latest mock draft. He slotted Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy to the Rams in Round 1, which would be a bold and polarizing move by Los Angeles.

The Rams’ first first-round selection since they took Jared Goff at No. 1 overall is another quarterback — go figure. Matthew Stafford might be approaching the 17th green of his career, and McCarthy needs time to marinate his fascinating toolset. He’s a Midwest kid, but McCarthy has displayed some California cool in crunch time — and he’s savvy enough to digest Sean McVay’s system.

McCarthy was a very good college quarterback who led Michigan to a national championship this past season. He threw 44 touchdown passes and only nine interceptions in the last two seasons, averaging an impressive 8.7 yards per attempt.

As we all know, of course, college numbers don’t always translate to NFL success. McCarthy could be a first-rounder but he’s not in the class of Caleb Williams, Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels at the top of the draft. That’s what makes this pick tougher to get behind. It’s not the position, it’s the player.