NFL scout, exec reveal huge concern with Michigan QB JJ McCarthy ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
Michigan Wolverines quarterback JJ McCarthy is one of the most important players in the program’s history. However, after helping lead his team to a national championship, there appears to be one big knock on McCarthy ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft that he can’t address.
McCarthy, age 21, has already faced questions for his lack of involvement in the offense late in the year. After emerging as a Heisman Trophy candidate heading into November, the Wolverines started dialing back McCarthy’s pass attempts and became a more run-heavy team.
McCarthy, who is currently thought to be the fourth-best quarterback prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft, will be attending the NFL Combine in the hopes of convincing teams that he deserves to be selected in the top ten. McCarthy is anticipated to wow employers throughout the interview process, but one aspect of his performance at the NFL Combine may raise even more questions.
In his most recent mailbag, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer discussed McCarthy’s draft stock and disclosed one scout’s criticism of the player, which included a worrying NFL analogy.
McCarthy (6-foot-3) has a much bigger frame than Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (5-foot-10), but the weight seems to be a major concern. McCarthy’s listed weight is right in line with Young’s weight (205 pounds) as a rookie season, which does raise some concerns about how McCarthy’s long-term durability at the next level.
- JJ McCarthy height and weight: 6-foot-3, 203 pounds
College football programs also have a penchant for inflating the heights and weights of their players, so McCarthy’s measurements at the NFL Combine could prove even more crucial. If he comes in around 205 pounds and in-person looks leave scouts and general managers leave them concerned about his thin frame, it’s possible it could push him down a few spots in the first round.
