Team trades into top five for J.J. McCarthy in latest mock draft
Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy continues to be the player out of Ann Arbor generating the most NFL Draft buzz, which was a given with the position he plays. But now that NFL free agency has started and teams across the league are setting the table for their roster plans, potential destinations are coming more into focus.
A mock draft released by Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic on Tuesday has McCarthy heading to the Minnesota Vikings, who traded with the Los Angeles Chargers in the scenario to land the No. 5 overall pick.
Quarterback is a glaring need in Minnesota after Kirk Cousins agreed to a four-year, $180 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons, who are now likely out of the mix for a first-round signal-caller.
“I doubt the Giants, who hold pick No. 6, are going to take a quarterback that high this year,” Baumgardner wrote. “But it’s not impossible, meaning the Vikings might not feel like they can sit and wait for a quarterback — even after the Falcons took themselves out of the mix. Better safe than sorry, though. The Vikings would be wise to pair McCarthy with a veteran bridge quarterback for at least a year (and they’ve reportedly landed on Sam Darnold as that option), but they also shouldn’t rule out the possibility that McCarthy wins the job in camp. His arm talent, athleticism and downfield aggressiveness could be a great fit with Kevin O’Connell.
“The league-wide QB thirst is real. [LSU’s Jayden] Daniels isn’t a top-five prospect in this class; McCarthy’s not a top-10 prospect. But if it’s not Minnesota climbing the board to take the Michigan star, it’ll be someone else.”
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Quarterbacks are expected to come off the board with the first three picks in the draft with USC’s Caleb Williams, North Carolina’s Drake Maye and Daniels heading to the Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders and New England Patriots, respectively. While it’s possible McCarthy could knock Maye or Daniels out of that group, the clock on him projects to start after that.
Other quarterback-needy teams include the Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Seattle Seahawks and Pittsburgh Steelers. But it looks increasingly likely that if any of them want a shot at McCarthy, they’ll have to move up in the draft for the Michigan star.
McCarthy, who was 27-1 as a starter at Michigan, threw for 2,991 yards with 22 touchdowns and 4 interceptions this season for the Maize and Blue, completing 240-of-332 (72.3%) of his passes. This season culminated in a 15-0 record and the College Football Playoff National Championship. Next up for him is U-M’s Pro Day on March 22, in addition to private meetings with other NFL teams.
The 2024 NFL Draft is set for April 25-27 from Detroit, Michigan, just 45 minutes down the road from Ann Arbor. The first round will take place on the 25th with the second and third rounds on the 26th. The fourth through seventh rounds will be held on April 27.
