NFL Mock Draft: Falcons Land National Champion & QB of the Future

The Atlanta Falcons addressed their pressing need at quarterback in NFL analyst Daniel Jeremiah's mock draft and he hinted at the franchise's approach in the draft.

If the Atlanta Falcons and first-year head coach Raheem Morris are going to get the most out of their roster, adding a quarterback through the 2024 NFL Draft, free agency, or a trade is a must. In NFL analyst Daniel Jeremiah's second mock draft, he had the Falcons addressing their need under center with Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy. 

"A lot of people around the NFL expect the Falcons to be aggressive when it comes to finding a quarterback in this year’s draft," Jeremiah writes. "They could trade up or, as they do in this case, stay at No. 8 and bet on McCarthy’s traits."

Jan 1, 2024; Pasadena, CA, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) throws a pass in the fourth quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2024 Rose Bowl college football playoff semifinal game at Rose Bowl / Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

McCarthy was the fourth quarterback taken in the top eight picks of Jeremiah's mock draft, as the Chicago Bears drafted Caleb Williams with the first overall pick, the Washington Commanders took Drake Maye at No. 2, and the New York Giants went with Jayden Daniels at No. 6. 

While McCarthy helped lead the Wolverines to a national championship, his stats don't pop off the screen for a quarterback who seems to be a lock as a top-15 pick. McCarthy threw for 2,991 yards, 22 touchdowns and four interceptions, and he ran for 202 yards and scored three times on the ground. After throwing for over 200 yards in eight of the Wolverines' first 10 games, he only eclipsed that mark once for the rest of the season. 

In the College Football Semifinals, McCarthy completed 17 of 27 passes for 221 yards and three touchdowns in a 27-20 overtime win over the Alabama Crimson Tide at the Rose Bowl. In the National Championship game against Washington. he completed 10 of 18 passes for 140 yards in a 34-13 victory over the Washington Huskies. 

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Also of note from Jeremiah's mock draft was him saying the Falcons are expected to be aggressive in finding their quarterback, which could point to the team trading up for the guy they like if he's available. Teams who don't need a quarterback like the Arizona Cardinals at No. 4 or Los Angeles Chargers at No. 5, would likely be the top options for a team to trade up with. It could also mean Atlanta is going to be aggressive in free agency or the trade market, which may point to it being interested in Bears quarterback Justin Fields. 

McCarthy has the potential to solve the Falcons' quarterback woes, but it'd be a bet on his traits more than his production at Michigan. If McCarthy reaches his ceiling, it'd be a home run for Atlanta. If he doesn't pan out, Morris could find the same fate as his predecessor.