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JJ McCarthy projected to AFC West team in ESPN’s latest mock draft
By Paul Harvey
Published:
JJ McCarthy has his sights on the 2024 NFL Draft, and many analysts are beginning to project McCarthy as a likely first-round pick in April.
ESPN’s Matt Miller was the latest, keeping McCarthy in the first round of his first post-Senior Bowl mock draft. McCarthy continues to trend behind the top group of QBs that includes Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels. Williams is still the favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick, and fans can track all the draft odds via Tradition’s family of Michigan sports betting links.
Miller even included McCarthy behind Oregon’s Bo Nix but the Wolverine star was still projected as a top-15 pick. Ultimately, Miller has McCarthy landing with the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 13 overall.
In Miller’s scenario, 5 of the top-13 picks in the draft are QBs. Here’s what he had to say about McCarthy:
The Raiders have a new general manager in Tom Telesco and must make finding a long-term quarterback the priority of the 2024 offseason (free agent signing Jimmy Garoppolo has not worked out). McCarthy, who started two years at Michigan, just turned 21 and has the requisite tools to be that player. He’s mobile and tough as nails, and scouts praise his arm strength and ability to make difficult throws in big situations. He has thrown only 44 touchdown passes in college to nine interceptions and compared to the other top quarterbacks in this class, he’s by far the least-experienced thrower. But his potential and ceiling have him worthy of a top-15 selection.
If McCarthy winds up in the AFC West, it would set up an intriguing regular-season schedule for the QB. Jim Harbaugh, now the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, would wind up facing his former QB twice a year as NFL rivals after winning a title together at Michigan.
Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.