J.J. McCarthy, the quarterback for the Michigan Wolverines, is reportedly undergoing homework from an NFC playoff contender. McCarthy is predicted to be selected first overall in the April 2024 NFL Draft.
McCarthy led the Michigan team to an undefeated 12-0 record. They are the second-ranked team in the country going into Saturday’s Big Ten Championship Game versus Iowa, only behind the Georgia Bulldogs.
Darren Wolfson of KSTP writes that the Minnesota Vikings had done “the most homework on” the Michigan signal-caller in an interview with the “Mackey and Judd” podcast (via Trevor Squire of Heavy Sports):
“Right now in this moment, they’re doing the most homework on McCarthy,” Wolfson said. “I’m not making a bold statement…but I’m just saying they have done a ton of work.”
Interestingly, despite Kirk Cousins leading the team to 13 victories and the NFC North division title in 2022, Minnesota chose not to extend the contract of the Pro Bowler this past offseason.
The 35-year-old’s season was abruptly interrupted by a torn Achilles tendon against the Green Bay Packers in Week 8. Josh Dobbs, who was acquired at the trade deadline, has done a respectable job of taking Cousins’ place, but Kevin O’Connell and company don’t see the journeyman quarterback as a long-term fix.
𝗥𝗨𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗦: The #Vikings have already done a lot of homework on quarterback prospects Jayden Daniels and JJ McCarthy, per @DWolfsonKSTP
Kirk Cousins is in a contract year and coming off a torn Achilles, it only makes sense for Minnesota to do their due diligence when it comes… pic.twitter.com/BTMNXV2nk6
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) November 30, 2023
Therefore, there’s a good likelihood that the Vikings will be selecting a quarterback in the NFL Draft in 2024.
McCarthy is a 6-foot-3, 202-pound quarterback who has completed 74.3 percent of his passes for 2,483 yards and 19 touchdowns against four interceptions so far this season.
