NFL Draft Analyst On JJ McCarthy: 'I've Been In Awe'

Although the competition hasn't been great so far, JJ McCarthy's performance through the first two weeks is gaining national attention.

Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy has been receiving praise from around the country for his performance through two weeks. Former NFL head coach Dave Wannstedt, now an analyst with the Big Ten Network, recently said that he's seen McCarthy do things that some of his quarterbacks in the NFL couldn't do. Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh recently said that McCarthy is a "once-in-a-generation" quarterback. 

"J.J. is phenomenal," said Harbaugh. "So on fire. So on point in the throws he is making from the pocket, doing severe damage when he does leave the pocket. Keeps his eyes downfield. Getting big chunk plays and yardage. The kind of throws he's making, too, they're NFL-caliber throws. Into tight windows. The accuracy is off the charts. He's putting balls six inches in front of the number, even the throws that are covering 30-40 yards, they're right on the number."

NFL Draft analyst Mike Renner has also been impressed with what he's seen from No. 9 throughout the first two weeks, going as far as to say he's in awe of McCarthy's film. 

I know the competition hasn’t been great, but I’ve been in awe of Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy’s tape through two weeks

No QB in the country has been better on a throw for throw basis (and he’s always had top of the draft tools)

pic.twitter.com/YguoSxvq0L

— Mike Renner (@mikerenner_) September 14, 2023

"I know the competition hasn't been great, but I've been in awe of Michigan QB JJ McCarthy's tape through two weeks," wrote Renner. "No QB in the country has been better on a throw for throw basis (and he's always had top of the draft tools).

It's hard to argue with Renner's assessment, or any other praise that's been thrown towards McCarthy so far. The junior QB is completing over 87 percent of his passes, which is the best in the nation. He's putting the ball on the mark nearly every single time, and his footwork within the pocket is a thing of beauty. 

CBS Sports recently put out a mock draft that has McCarthy as the third quarterback taken in the 2024 draft, just behind Caleb Williams and Drake Maye. The mock draft has McCarthy going in the first-round (No. 10 overall) to the Seattle Seahawks. 

McCarthy has the arm talent and predisposition to let it rip downfield that Pete Carroll will love, and it blends well with the likes of DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba at receiver.

If McCarthy does end up declaring for the NFL Draft following the 2023 season, it's clear that he's got a great shot at becoming the first Michigan quarterback taken in the first-round of the 1987 NFL Draft since Jim Harbaugh was selected in the first-round (No. 26 overall) in by the Chicago Bears.