Is Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy a Good Fit for the Vikings in the 2024 NFL Draft?

Although the NFL draft is notoriously unpredictable and still a ways off, it is currently widely believed that quarterbacks Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Jayden Daniels will be selected in the top three spots on April 25. The Vikings will have to choose between J.J. McCarthy, Michael Penix Jr., and Bo Nix, the three second-tier quarterback prospects, if they are unable to move up into that top three.

McCarthy is an intriguing candidate whose background differs slightly from the other two. When their rookie seasons start, Penix and Nix, who are seniors in their fifth or sixth year, will be 24 years old. With potent Pac-12 offenses, they finished first and second in the country in passing yards (by a significant margin) the previous season, and they were both Heisman finalists. McCarthy, on the other hand, recently turned 21 and is a true junior. With less than 3,000 passing yards in 15 games, he finished 35th in the nation while leading Michigan’s run-heavy offense. McCarthy led his Michigan team to victory over Penix’s Washington Huskies in the national championship game, capping an undefeated season.

The Vikings were at the Senior Bowl last week, closely observing Penix and Nix. Of course, they’re also doing a lot of homework on McCarthy, who wasn’t even in Mobile. Former Stanford Andrew Luck coach Jim Harbaugh, who now coaches the Chargers, has heaped praise on the former four-star recruit from the Chicago suburbs. McCarthy appears to be considered the QB4 at this point in the draft process, ahead of Penix and Nix. McCarthy was projected to go 12th overall to the Broncos and 13th overall to the Raiders in a couple of recent mock drafts by well-known analysts. Naturally, the Vikings have the eleventh pick.