Newsstand: Why J.J. McCarthy is 'biggest winner' of 2024 NFL Draft
The Michigan Wolverines 2024 NFL Draft efforts were headlined by J.J. McCarthy heading to the Minnesota Vikings, and his situation might be the best of any player selected in the event.
One could argue that no rookie in the history of the modern NFL has landed in a better spot than McCarthy. Minnesota signing Sam Darnold will mean there’s no pressure to start right now. The rookie can sit for a year, learn the Kevin O’Connell system, and more importantly be tutored up by quarterbacks coach Josh McCown. Then, in a year’s time, he gets to come out in a top-tier offense with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson — with protection to boot.
Furthermore, the quarterback he’s replacing in Kirk Cousins is certainly great, but it’s not like Jordan Love trying to replace Aaron Rodgers or Mac Jones following Tom Brady. Clearing the Cousins bar isn’t insurmountable, because he never actually won anything in Minnesota.
So, now the table is set. McCarthy could end up being brilliant, or this will be a massive whiff. Either way it doesn’t change that how his camp handled this process from the National Championship until the draft was masterful, and the timing allowed a talented, but questionable quarterback to become a Top 10 pick, and land on the best team who took a passer over the weekend.
Tweets of the day
Michigan quote of the day
“There’s a lot to like about McCarthy. I mean this kid’s tough, he’s a great leader, he’s an alpha guy, players love him, his teammates love him, and he makes a lot of good decisions,” Belichick said. “He really helps your team, I think he’ll work well with the Vikings and I think Coach O’Connell will do a great job with him and he’s got some good players to work with. Especially [Justin] Jefferson.”
– Bill Belichick on former Michigan and current Minnesota Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy
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