JJ McCarthy is off the board, becoming a first-round selection in Thursday’s NFL Draft!

When things kicked off, McCarthy did not have to wait long to hear his name called. The Minnesota Vikings officially grabbed McCarthy with the No. 10 overall pick, adding to an early first-round run on quarterbacks.

The Vikings traded up 1 spot to No. 1o overall with the New York Jets in order to select their new franchise quarterback.

Throughout the pre-draft process, McCarthy was one of the more intriguing prospects to track. He did not have the massive numbers that some first-round quarterbacks possess, but Michigan went 27-1 with a national title with McCarthy as the starter.

In his 2 seasons as a starter, McCarthy did have 7 games with a completion percentage below 60%, including the national championship game vs. Washington. However, his knowledge of NFL-style offenses and defenses and what is viewed as an elite set of intangibles have drawn rave reviews from scouts and analysts.

Some of the concerns surrounding McCarthy are also eased by his overall efficiency. McCarthy was 1 of just 7 FBS QBs to complete at least 70% of his passes during the 2023 season, and he ranked 3rd in the country in Total QBR at 89.2. (Oregon’s Bo Nix and LSU’s Jayden Daniels were the only players to finish higher.)

As he begins his NFL journey, it will be interesting to see if McCarthy is lined up to have an immediate impact as a rookie or is used in a sit and learn type of arrangement. McCarthy does not turn 22-years-old until January, so there is a chance he does not see the field much in 2024 as he adapts to life as a professional.