Rich Eisen is giving out some free advance for any NFL team that might be considering passing on Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy.

A Michigan alum himself, Eisen started a segment on his show by detailing a recent report that referenced McCarthy’s physical makeup as a cause for concern in the draft. The report specifically referenced McCarthy’s slender build and described the quarterback as a “stretched-out Bryce Young.”

It’s safe to say Eisen is no fan of the report. He went on to claim any team who passes on McCarthy will do so at their “own peril.”

“I don’t care how lanky he was, there wasn’t a single time watching that team over the last 2 years talking about how stretched out and lanky he is, and I understand the pros are totally different than college,” said Eisen. “But I would just tell anybody out there, you pass on this guy at your own peril.”

The good news is McCarthy is expected to meet with the Denver Broncos at the NFL Combine, and Denver would appear to be a suitable match in terms of draft projections and likely need. The Broncos currently hold the 12th overall pick for the draft, and fans can track all the latest NFL Draft odds with Tradition’s Ohio sports betting apps.

What Eisen is missing in his advice

Eisen was visibly upset regarding some of the questions related to McCarthy’s ability, but that’s the nature of the NFL Draft process. He even appeared to misunderstand the entire nature of the report regarding McCarthy’s draft stock.

At one point, Eisen questioned if there has been any other QB prospect with a similar portfolio who “got drafted all the way in the 6th round because everybody thought he couldn’t do it?” That has never been the concern for McCarthy’s draft stock.

Even if McCarthy is “way off” from the top QB group that includes Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels, it doesn’t mean McCarthy is not likely to be a first-round pick. Many projections still have Michigan’s star as a likely pick in the top half of the draft, and there’s virtually no world where McCarthy is selected in the 6th round.

Also, while the concern about McCarthy’s frame could be valid, is not being compared to a “stretched-out Bryce Young” a bit of a compliment to McCarthy? At the very least, it should be viewed as one, and it says more about McCarthy’s potential as a passer than it does about his concerns.

Across the 2021-22 seasons, Young threw for over 8,000 yards with 80 touchdowns to just 12 interceptions. He captured the 2021 Heisman Trophy and eventually faced similar questions about his physical makeup during the process for the 2023 NFL Draft.

Oh, and in case anyone has forgotten, Young became the No. 1 overall pick in the draft last year.

That’s not to say McCarthy’s draft stock or NFL future is on the same trajectory as Young’s, but there’s no reason to get worked up on pre-combine reports of McCarthy’s weaknesses. Especially as McCarthy gears up to throw at the combine alongside more veteran players in Michael Penix Jr., Bo Nix and Spencer Rattler.

Should McCarthy stumble in Saturday’s throwing workouts (or other areas of the physical testing), his stature may produce more cause for concern moving forward. But, by most accounts, he’s expected to wow teams with his arm, and it’s likely he will produce strong numbers in the physical testing as an athletic QB.

If McCarthy does indeed shine in Indy, being compared to a “stretched-out” version of last year’s No. 1 pick will only help his case as a first-round pick.