J.J. McCarthy was not one of the 32 names on NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah’s mock draft 1.0. The quarterback for the Michigan Wolverines football team wasn’t a first-round pick on January 19, but as of February 20, Jeremiah’s mock draft 2.0 has him as the Atlanta Falcons’ eighth overall pick.
McCarthy is ranked by Jeremiah as the No. 4 quarterback available, behind LSU’s Jayden Daniels (No. 6 to the New York Giants), North Carolina’s Drake Maye (No. 2 to the Washington Commanders), and USC’s Caleb Williams (No. 1 to the Chicago Bears).
According to Jeremiah, “many in the NFL anticipate the Falcons to be aggressive in their pursuit of a quarterback this year in the draft.” “They could stay at No. 8 and wager on McCarthy’s qualities, or they could trade up, as they do in this instance.”
Even though McCarthy hasn’t played in any all-star games and the NFL Combine is still more than a week away, his status has been increasing lately. Although he is now projected as a top 10-15 pick in mock drafts, he is still considered a top 20–30 prospect overall. Atlanta, along with Minnesota at No. 11, Denver at No. 12, and Seattle at No. 16, are all well-liked spots.
