NFL scouts and executives express deep concern about Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy

JJ McCarthy, the Michigan Wolverines’ quarterback, is one of the most important players in school history.

However, after helping his team win a national championship, McCarthy appears to have one major flaw ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft that he cannot overcome.

McCarthy, 21, has already been questioned for his lack of involvement in the offense late in the season. After emerging as a Heisman Trophy candidate heading into November, the Wolverines began limiting McCarthy’s pass attempts and became a more run-heavy club.

• JJ McCarthy stats: 167.4 QB rating, 2,991 passing yards, 22-4 TD-INT, 9.0 ypa

McCarthy, who is already regarded as the fourth-best quarterback prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft, will attend the NFL Combine with the hopes of convincing teams that he should be drafted in the top ten. While McCarthy is anticipated to wow organizations in the interview room, there is one area that may be an even bigger concern following the NFL Combine.

Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated addressed McCarthy’s draft stock in his latest mailbag, revealing one critique on McCarthy offered by a scout, which included a disturbing NFL parallel.

“The second thing is McCarthy’s frame. I had one scout tell me he’s built like a stretched-out Bryce Young-and it’s not like he’s that much taller than Young, at about 6’2”. Yes, he’s only 21. But looking at him physically, teams have concerns about how much bigger he’ll get. In fact, one AFC college scouting director said to me last month, “I get taken aback seeing him in person because he’s so slight.”

Albert Breer on Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy

McCarthy (6-foot-3) has a far larger build than Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (5-foot-10), but his weight appears to be a huge worry. McCarthy’s reported weight is comparable to Young’s (205 pounds) during his rookie season, raising some concerns about McCarthy’s long-term durability at the next level.

• JJ McCarthy height and weight: 6-foot-3, 203 pounds

College football schools have a history of exaggerating their players’ heights and weights, so McCarthy’s measures at the NFL Combine could be even more important. If he weighs around 205 pounds and in-person looks cause scouts and general managers to be concerned about his small build, he may fall a few spots in the first round.