Where Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy is projected in post-NFL Combine mock drafts

Michigan Wolverines football quarterback J.J. McCarthy just had an eventful week in Indianapolis, where he met with 11 teams and went through drills. His NFL Draft stock is rising, too.

McCarthy came into the combine a top-20 pick by most prognosticators, some projecting him in the top 10, with the Atlanta Falcons at No. 8 being a popular landing spot for those in the latter group. Now, though, some analysts are pegging him as potentially going even higher than that. Three of the five post-combine mocks that were released Monday had McCarthy in the top 10. The other two still had him being picked in the first round.

RELATED
• Complete results for 18 Michigan football prospects at 2024 NFL Combine
• Behind the scenes: Covering a Michigan takeover at the NFL Combine

McCarthy, Oregon’s Bo Nix and Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. were the three most high-profile quarterback prospects who decided to throw to receivers at Lucas Oil Stadium, while the consensus top three at the position — USC’s Caleb Williams, North Carolina’s Drake Maye and LSU’s Jayden Daniels — opted out of competing in front of NFL teams.

From what The Athletic reporter Bruce Feldman gathered while in Indianapolis, Penix and McCarthy were the two most impressive quarterbacks who went through drills at the combine.

Here’s a look at where McCarthy is projected in mock drafts that were released following the event.

Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports: No. 3 to the New England Patriots

Wilson has Williams and Maye going No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, and made the bold prediction that McCarthy will go higher than Maye, who checks in No. 5 to the Minnesota Vikings, who he predicts will trade up to the spot.

“J.J. McCarthy might be one of the most polarizing players in this class, and I’ll admit it, I was skeptical that he was worthy of a first-round pick,” Wilson wrote. “It’s not because he isn’t talented (his athleticism and arm strength are impressive), but because he wasn’t asked to do a lot in Michigan’s offense. But go back and watch his throws on third down and 6 to 10 yards to go: he completed 73% of his attempts — many of them NFL throws — with 5 touchdowns and no turnovers.

“We also talked to him at the combine and the charisma and leadership just ooze off him. And I get it, you might think that we got caught up in the moment, but I’ll just say this: last year when we spoke to C.J. Stroud at the combine, those very same qualities were blindingly obvious in person, and it certainly didn’t hurt his cause during a historic rookie season.”

Nate Davis, USA Today: No. 6 to the New York Giants

Davis predicted that the Michigan quarterback will be the third quarterback taken, trailing Williams and Daniels. He has the Falcons taking Maye at No. 8.

“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,” Davis wrote. “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 offseason – or trade if he plays well in Year 2 of his four-year, $160 million contract.

Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: No. 9 to the Denver Broncos

Zierlein projected that the Broncos, who hold the 12th pick, will trade up to No. 9, a selection currently owned by the Chicago Bears, who also have the No. 1 overall spot. The analyst has the Michigan quarterback going behind Williams, Daniels and Maye.

“With [quarterback] Russell Wilson on his way out, the Broncos dive head-first back into the quarterback market by moving up a few spots and grabbing a young signal-caller with plenty of upside for [head coach] Sean Payton to mold,” Zierlein wrote.

Keith Sanchez, The Draft Network: No. 12 to the Denver Broncos

Sanchez has McCarthy as the fourth signal-caller off the board, behind Williams, Maye and Daniels.

“The Broncos need a quarterback — Russell Wilson and Sean Payton are not a successful pairing,” Sanchez wrote. “I believe Payton would want a guy that has all of the physical tools that he could mold and develop into exactly what he needs to run his offense. J.J. McCarthy has exactly those tools and upside as a player and Payton has a proven quarterback track record of developing players.”

Gordon McGuinness, Pro Football Focus: No. 30 to the Atlanta Falcons

McGuinness has the Falcons trading back into the first round after selecting at No. 8 and taking McCarthy 30th overall. He’s the fifth quarterback to be taken, behind Williams, Maye, Daniels and Nix (at No. 19 to the Los Angeles Rams).

“Moving back into the first round to lock in a fifth-year option for a quarterback and only really giving up a fourth and fifth-round pick feels like a win for Atlanta,” McGuinness wrote. “McCarthy earned a 90.6 PFF grade this past season, fifth among all quarterbacks in this draft class.”