While there’s anticipation that Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy will be a first-round pick in the upcoming NFL draft,
While there’s anticipation that Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy will be a first-round pick in the upcoming NFL draft, a notable executive believes there’s a considerable gap between McCarthy and the top echelon of quarterbacks in this year’s class.
According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, an AFC executive expressed the view that McCarthy is “very far off” from the draft’s top three quarterbacks—Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Jayden Daniels. Breer shared insights from a long-time executive who questioned the perceived superiority of Maye over McCarthy, stating, “A question I need answered: What makes Maye so much better than McCarthy?” On the contrary, the AFC executive firmly asserted, “J.J.’s not getting in the top three. No way.”
Despite McCarthy’s commendable performance, boasting 2,991 passing yards and 22 touchdowns in the past season, concerns have been raised about his physique. Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 202 pounds, McCarthy has been described as “lanky” by one executive, drawing comparisons to a “stretched-out Bryce Young.” The scrutiny of McCarthy’s height and weight is expected to play a role, with NFL teams assessing his potential for physical development.
On Bleacher Report’s NFL Draft Big Board, McCarthy holds the No. 55 spot with a grade of 7.3. In the quarterback rankings, he trails Maye (No. 1 with a 9.3 grade), Williams (No. 2 with a 9.2 grade), and the Heisman Trophy-winning Daniels (No. 3 with a 7.8 grade). Despite not making the top three, McCarthy does outpace Heisman runner-ups Michael Penix Jr. (7.1) and Bo Nix (7.1).
