Watch: J.J. McCarthy lights it up at NFL draft combine

It was only a matter of time before the rest of the world started to see what Michigan football fans have known all along about J.J. McCarthy: he’s an elite quarterback. And so far at the NFL combine, McCarthy has looked the part of a top-10 draft pick.

Watch: J.J. McCarthy drops dimes at NFL draft combine

Unlike other projected first-round quarterbacks like Drake Maye, Caleb Williams, and Jayden Daniels, McCarthy, the former Michigan football standout and First-Team All-Big Ten selection in 2023, decided otherwise. He wanted to throw. He also wanted to run the 40-meter dash but decided not to because of hamstring soreness.

.@jjmccarthy09 airing it out

: #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork
: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/1B6NSNT3N4

— NFL (@NFL) March 2, 2024

Good visual of J.J. McCarthy and his easy velocity here. He’s got a live arm.

pic.twitter.com/TMUVHeEwPn

— Ian Cummings (@IC_Draft) March 2, 2024

Dropping dimes @jjmccarthy09 #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/YIlj8V6NKZ

— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) March 2, 2024

That didn’t stop J.J. McCarthy from slinging the ball around Indianapolis on Saturday and just like in the Big Ten championship games he participated in (and won), the Michigan football quarterback looked right at home. Yes, the passes were against air, but still, McCarthy showed that he’s got all the arm talent needed to be an elite NFL quarterback.

J.J. McCarthy’s stock is on the rise

The fact that J.J. McCarthy was willing to compete and showcase his skills at the combine also seems to have helped him. Before the day started, he was trending up as possibly the third quarterback in the 2024 NFL draft and his stock could rise even more after this performance, along with his measurables. He’s also a national champion. His performance this season on third down and in the Alabama game, when everything was on the line, should tell NFL general managers all they need to know.

McCarthy has had formal interviews with the Bears, Bucs, Commanders, Patriots, Giants, Falcons, Vikings, Raiders, Seahawks, Saints, and Broncos. At this point, it would be shocking if the Michigan football legend made it out of the top 10. The way it’s trending, he might not make it out of the top five.

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