NFL executive doesn’t hold back on Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy

Can J.J. McCarthy emerge as the finest quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft class?

While USC’s Caleb Williams and North Carolina’s Drake Maye are regarded the top two quarterback prospects this year, a former NFL executive believes McCarthy, who played at Michigan, will be the best of the bunch.

“All the attention is on Caleb Williams. “J.J. McCarthy will be the best quarterback in this draft class,” the former executive told the NFL Analysis Network. “The kid has the ‘it’ factor.”

McCarthy spent three years at Michigan and is coming off a junior season in which he threw for 2,991 yards, 22 touchdowns, and four interceptions while completing 72.3% of his attempts.

Most importantly, McCarthy guided the Wolverines to the national championship.

Not only are Williams and Maye largely regarded as the two best signal-callers to emerge from college this spring, but McCarthy is rarely regarded as a top three or four prospect.

Most draft boards rank LSU’s Jayden Daniels and Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. ahead of McCarthy, and Oregon’s Bo Nix is also considered a contender on some lists.

McCarthy appears to be headed for the second round, so whomever gets him may be getting a good deal.

McCarthy became Michigan’s full-time starter in 2022, accumulating 2,719 yards, 22 touchdowns, and five interceptions while completing 64.6 percent of his passes. He also carried for 306 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 4.4 yards per attempt.

While McCarthy isn’t precisely Lamar Jackson, he is athletic enough to be classified as a dual threat, and teams will undoubtedly consider that at draft time.

In a few months, we’ll see if McCarthy rises or falls.