J.J. McCarthy draft projection: Where could Michigan QB land with his stock on the rise?

J.J. McCarthy is one of the most interesting prospects in the entire 2024 NFL draft class, regardless of position. Quarterbacks are always at the center of attention for every draft, but this year appears to be particularly special. The class includes several highly-rated options, including McCarthy, who continues to rise up many draft boards.

While he was once thought of as a mid-round speculative pick, McCarthy is now expected to go in the top half of the first round, according to most draft experts. Here is what his prospect profile looks like along with some potential landing spots on draft day.

J.J. McCarthy 2024 NFL draft projection

JJ McCarthy

Former Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh has consistently praised J.J. McCarthy as potentially the best quarterback in the 2024 NFL draft class. The duo won a national championship together last season, and while it makes sense that his coach would hype him, many teams have taken notice of his potential upside.

It's almost guaranteed at this point that Caleb Williams will be the No. 1 overall pick this year as he is a massive favorite to be the first player selected. Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels have topped most draft rankings for quarterbacks behind Williams, but McCarthy's stock continues to rise.

Some experts have even speculated that McCarthy could be as high as the second pick in the 2024 NFL draft, while most don't have him any lower than the fourth quarterback selected.

He doesn't have the same stats that jump off the page or the elite athleticism of some of the other prospects, but his impressive offseason, including at the NFL Combine, has intrigued many teams.

McCarthy has totaled 59 touchdowns across his three seasons with the Michigan Wolverines, but some have speculated that he could have done more in a different system. Harbaugh has long been known for running the ball and playing defense, so if he was in a more pass-focused offense, his numbers may have looked more impressive.

Regardless of his situation during his college football career, J.J. McCarthy will now look to make an impact for whichever NFL team drafts him. He could potentially be a day-one starter, or a backup initially, depending upon which team makes a move to pick him.

3 best landing spots for J.J. McCarthy

Here are three teams who could potentially take a shot on J.J. McCarthy in the 2024 NFL draft.

1) Minnesota Vikings

Kirk Cousins shockingly decided to depart the Minnesota Vikings during the 2024 NFL free agency period and join the Atlanta Falcons. They signed Sam Darnold as a potential replacement, but they are rumored to be seeking a new quarterback in the 2024 NFL draft. This would be an ideal situation for J.J. McCarthy as the Vikings have elite weapons, including Justin Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson.

2) Denver Broncos

Russell Wilson was surprisingly cut by the Denver Broncos during the 2024 NFL offseason. He then signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Sean Payton is reportedly hoping to be aggressive during the draft this year to land his new quarterback. That could potentially be J.J. McCarthy, who would have a chance to thrive in Payton's quarterback-friendly offensive system.

3) Las Vegas Raiders

Jimmy Garoppolo was benched in favor of Aidan O'Connell for the Las Vegas Raiders last year, but the rookie may have failed to secure the starting job for the 2024 NFL season. If the Raiders are in fact looking to make a change, McCarthy would appear to make sense for them. They have been rumored to be interested in trading up to theoretically pick a quarterback.