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Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

NFL coaches make case that Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy is a top-of-the-draft QB

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 4/19/24

With the 2024 NFL Draft less than six days away, general managers, head coaches and scouts for teams picking in the top five are doing their due diligence on the quarterback class.

USC’s Caleb Williams is the consensus No. 1 passer and top overall player in the draft, but there’s much debate about what order LSU’s Jayden Daniels, North Carolina’s Drake Maye and Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy should be in behind Williams.

McCarthy has been arguably the biggest riser of any position during the pre-draft process, but he also appears to be the player most scouts are divided on.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero recently spoke to dozens of NFL executives, coaches and scouts to get a better sense of the perception of the 2024 QB class. Surprisingly, some coaches argued that McCarthy deserves to be mentioned as a potential top-four pick.

“You're never going to be in that spot again, so you better get the right guy,” an NFL head coach told Pelissero. “When [McCarthy] did throw it and he had to throw it, it was pretty impressive, man. He beat Alabama — he had to make big-time throws in that game, and he did. If I was Chicago, I'd be bringing in Caleb and J.J. this week and grinding the [expletive] out of those two. Because there's not enough evidence to say Caleb is clearly No. 1.”

Will J.J. McCarthy be the 3rd QB selected OVER Drake Maye?@BaldyNFL has some concerns about Maye and feels there's a chance McCarthy will be selected ahead of Maye next Thursday. @TheKostos | @LockyLockerson pic.twitter.com/tV1PdCPnji
— You Better You Bet (@YouBetterYouBet) April 19, 2024

McCarthy is a proven winner. He had a 63-3 record as a starter at IMG Academy and Michigan. And he’s one of the more accurate passers in the draft (he completed 72.3% of his passes this season and 67.6% in two-plus seasons with the Wolverines.)

While several scouts have stated they’re not sold on McCarthy’s play processing or arm strength, many coaches seem to agree he’s arguably the most NFL-ready QB in this year’s class because of the offense he played in at Michigan under former Wolverines and now Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh.

“The more I watched J.J. and was around J.J., the more he grew on me,” an NFC assistant coach told Pelissero. “I wouldn't be surprised if he's the third quarterback taken. He's by far the most pro-readymade QB because of him being with Harbaugh, being in a pro-style system, operating under center, communicating the play call. He crushed the combine interview. It was easy. Super smart. Communicates well. Super calm demeanor. Quiet confidence almost. His pro day was probably the best of all the QBs.”

How high McCarthy is eventually drafted is one of the top storylines leading up to April 25. It’s tough to see him being selected ahead of either Daniels or Maye, but he is likely a lock for the top five.

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