The Minnesota Vikings selected Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy with the No. 10 pick after a trade with the New York Jets. Minnesota sent pick Nos. 11, 129 and 157 for Nos. 10 and 203, according to multiple reports.
The Athletic NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler on McCarthy: A two-year starter at Michigan, McCarthy was the point guard of former head coach Jim Harbaugh’s pro-style spread offense that relied on a power-run attack and shifts/motions to create favorable matchups in the passing game. After compiling a 36-2 record in high school with a state title, he led the Wolverines to a 27-1 record as a starter (school-record .964 winning percentage), including the 2023 national championship.
Though McCarthy needs to add more bulk to his frame, he is a good-sized athlete who can operate from the pocket with balance, negotiate pressure and create plays with his mobility when needed. He is a loose passer, quick to process what the defense gives him and delivers with velocity and accuracy from various platforms (school-record 67.6 percent career completion percentage). However, his decision-making is still developing, and he must prove he can get further into his progressions. NFL teams describe him as a “winner” and love the way he is wired (Harbaugh calls him the “Ice Man” for the way he stays cool under pressure).
Overall, McCarthy’s evaluation feels incomplete, which creates even more projection than normal, but his passing skills, pocket athleticism and mental makeup are all ascending and create optimism for his NFL future. Although bumps along the way should be expected, he has the package of tools to become an NFL starter early in his career.
Tags: NFL Draft live updates Falcons stun Penix pick Vikings trade picks
