JJ McCarthy is already one of the most intriguing quarterbacks who will perform at the NFL Combine. However, any questions about his current draft stock were likely answered by his list of official meetings in Indianapolis.

Speaking with the media Friday morning, McCarthy rattled off a list of teams he has met with throughout the combine week. The likely suspects of the Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders and Seattle Seahawks were included, as were the Minnesota Vikings who are anticipated to move on from Kirk Cousins.

Those teams are currently slated to pick in the first round between picks No. 11-16, and their inclusion was not surprising. The next group, however, is a group that turns some heads.

According to McCarthy, he also had interviews with the Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders, New England Patriots and New York Giants. All of those teams hold top-10 picks, including a trio of teams with the first 3 overall picks.

In particular, McCarthy spoke well about meetings with the Commanders and the Giants:

What it means for McCarthy’s draft stock

Shortly after McCarthy’s comments, ESPN’s “Get Up” crew debated how high McCarthy can go. Dan Graziano specifically pointed out that a lot of people “are pretty high” on Michigan’s star entering the combine, though his performance on Saturday can influence that either way.

“This week can impact perceptions either way, so it’s entirely possible that he looks good on tape and they want to love him, but then he gets here and doesn’t test the way they would hope,” Graziano explained.

“But coming into the combine, I definitely got the sense that JJ McCarthy would likely be the No. 4 QB taken and that he has a chance to go higher than people think, maybe even in the top 10 where the Giants are sitting and they probably don’t get one of the top 3.”

At this point, the Giants hold the 6th overall pick in the draft and appear to be unsold on Daniel Jones moving forward. Fans can track the latest NFL Draft odds via Tradition’s Ohio sports betting links and apps.

Mike Tannenbaum followed Graziano and predicted McCarthy could go even higher. He specifically referenced the Atlanta Falcons, a team in need of a QB, that may need to trade into the top 5.

“He could go higher. He could go No. 4, I could see Atlanta trading to No. 4 if they have to,” claimed Tannenbaum. “…He has all the ability in the world, he has much better athleticism than a lot of people realize. He’s an innate leader and at the most high-leverage moments, he played extremely well.”

Which teams have actual interest?

Trying to decipher which teams are genuinely interested in McCarthy can be tricky, but some of these teams are likely just completing normal due diligence in the draft process. For example, Chicago is unlikely to pass on Caleb Williams or trade out of the No. 1 spot. The same goes for the Commanders who will have their choice of remaining QBs with Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels in the  mix.

After the first two picks, things get more interesting.

New England currently holds the No. 3 pick and could take a QB, but that is far from guaranteed. The Patriots could opt to roll with Mac Jones and a veteran QB if they are blown away by Marvin Harrison Jr. or any of the other first-round receivers.

At No. 4, the Arizona Cardinals are committed to Kyler Murray and are likely to take one of the top playmakers available to work with Murray. The Los Angeles Chargers are also not in the market for a QB with Justin Herbert on the roster.

So, is there a shot McCarthy comes off the board in the top 5? It’s possible, but the wild card situation involves the Patriots and Cardinals at No. 3 and No. 4.

But, the ultimate angle here is McCarthy’s stock as a top-10 pick, and that status is becoming more and more secure as of Friday. The final piece of the puzzle is likely McCarthy’s on-field workouts on Saturday.

Whether or not fans like it (or agree with the decision), a strong throwing session likely nails down McCarthy as a top-10 pick in April.