NFL rumors: An insider suggests that Michigan’s JJ McCarthy could be a pre-draft riser.
Although JJ McCarthy has been on the rise lately, many people initially believed that he would be a late first- or second-round selection. McCarthy didn’t have to throw very frequently for Michigan to win a lot of football games, but when he did, he was very good. Bucky Brooks, an NFL Draft analyst, believes that McCarthy ought to be selected early.
“If quarterbacks are evaluated based on their victories, McCarthy ought to be at the top of the list because of his almost flawless record as the Wolverines’ captain,” Brooks stated, citing a Sports Illustrated story.
“While leading an offense with a potent running game, the 6-foot-3, 202-pound player concluded his career with a 27-1 record and a national championship. Despite frequently filling a supplementary position, McCarthy exhibits interesting abilities as a dual-threat playmaker, developing pocket-passing ability and A-plus arm talent.
McCarthy will value the combine because he did not throw the ball much while at Michigan. He completed a respectable number of NFL passes during his time as a Wolverine, and the combine will provide him with a chance to demonstrate his consistency in making throws of that caliber.
Brooks said, “The junior standout can make every throw in the book, but he needs more opportunities to show evaluators that he is accurate and reliable with the ball.” On my list of the top five prospects by position, he is now ranked No. 5 among quarterbacks.
McCarthy’s value will fluctuate depending on how he performs in his workouts and chalk talks in the run-up to the draft, considering his meager experience (only 28 career starts) and managerial style with the Wolverines.
Not too many months away, as the NFL Draft is scheduled for late April. McCarthy is now headed in the right direction, but we will have to wait and see where he ends up.