Even in what could be the final game of the year, JJ McCarthy’s NFL Draft scouting report is a work in progress, even though he is considered a first-round NFL prospect. It’s been a strange season for Michigan’s quarterback, which is entirely appropriate since it’s been a generally strange season for Michigan football. McCarthy’s strong start was overshadowed by the Wolverines’ sign-stealing scandal, and he wasn’t as sharp in the final weeks of the season. But then again, he faced some of the strongest defenses in the country in the final weeks of Michigan’s season.
For analyst Kirk Herbstreit, the question of JJ McCarthy NFL draft stock has too many holes.
“I think he’s still a quarterback that could benefit from another year of college football. He might be an NFL first-rounder if he leaves, but it’s not about me being a first-rounder at the position,” Herbstreit said, according to the Maize and Brew blog. “If you look at quarterbacks that have recently come into the NFL and done pretty well pretty quickly, I always look at the reps.
“When I go to these NFL games on Thursday, when I look at a quarterback, especially a young guy, how many years has he played? How many reps did he get as a passer and as a starter? I think JJ has been through so much, but I think another year allows him to almost be a turnkey quarterback that you groomed him to be.
JJ McCarthy NFL Preliminary Scouting Report: Incomplete
McCarthy was brilliant through the first nine games of the season for Michigan football, throwing 18 touchdowns and just three interceptions (all of which came in the win over Bowling Green). He threw for 237 yards per game in those nine outings. But check the numbers since then: 124 yards per game and just one touchdown pass. He is no longer the same.
ESPN analyst Mel Kiper agreed with Herbstreit on his JJ McCarthy NFL draft scouting report. Kiper said there is simply too much unknown about McCarthy.
“(An intriguing wild card at quarterback is) Michigan’s JJ McCarthy, who has been one of the toughest evaluations in this entire class,” Kiper said. “He has the tools to be in the running for that No. 3 QB spot, but he just didn’t convince me at the end. Where were the “wow” throws? I haven’t seen him progress much. Sure, he only had four interceptions, but three of them came against…Bowling Green?
“Plus, he wasn’t asked to beat teams with his arm, in part because the Wolverines knocked out every opponent through November. It’s clear that McCarthy has a ton of talent, but not every NFL team will be in love with him, which means he could move up to Day 2. I have him as my No. 7 QB right now.
Is Michigan football hiding McCarthy’s talents?
But one scout said the problem with any draft JJ McCarthy-NFL scouting report is that it’s likely incomplete. He just didn’t throw as many passes in a conservative UM offense.
That should change, however, if McCarthy throws his name into the NFL draft list. Further investigation into McCarthy will reveal his talent. This would of course be a blow to Michigan football, but landing in the first round would give McCarthy more room to maneuver in the NFL.
“I think a lot of people haven’t looked too deeply into McCarthy yet,” said one scout who covers the Michigan area, via ESPN. “But when they do, he will rise. He would dominate an event like the Senior Bowl.”
“To me, he’s an athletic Kirk Cousins,” the Michigan area scout said.
