Patriots reportedly have second pre-draft meeting with rising quarterback prospect
While speaking to the media at the NFL annual meetings on Monday morning, New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo highlighted how the team is doing its due-diligence in evaluating the quarterback position ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft. That included sharing the expectation that a number of top quarterbacks will visit Foxborough for top-30 visits at some point before the draft.
One of the quarterbacks Mayo named as those he expects to visit was Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy. That would mark McCarthy’s third sit down with the Patriots of the pre-draft process.
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At the NFL Combine last month, McCarthy told reporters he had an “amazing” meeting with the Patriots at the event. “It would be an honor to be part of their organization,” McCarthy said at the time.
Then on Monday, SI’s Albert Breer reported that the Patriots were one of three teams to have “lengthy meetings” with McCarthy in Ann Arbor on Thursday ahead of Michigan’s pro day on Friday (along with the Washington Commanders and Seattle Seahawks). Among those reportedly in attendance for McCarthy’s pro day were Mayo, de facto GM Eliot Wolf, offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, and quarterbacks coach T.C. McCartney.
McCarthy’s rise up projected draft boards has been one of the bigger surprises of the pre-draft process. He led Michigan to a National Championship this year but wasn’t nearly as involved in his team’s offense as the other top quarterbacks, and is the outlier in terms of in-game experience in that group. His 654 pass attempts over the last two years are the fewest of the top six QBs, and he’s the only one of the six to have thrown fewer than 350 passes in both 2022 and 2023 (for comparison, Drake Maye and Michael Penix each threw over 400 pass attempts in both years).
Still, McCarthy’s natural abilities have him squarely in the radar of teams picking in the top 15. At 6-foot-2, 219 pounds he’s a good athlete who flashed ability to throw on the run when given the opportunity at Michigan. He’s also younger, having just turned 21 in January, so all though he is not as experienced he should have more time to build out his game and learn once in an NFL organization. Undoubtably, teams also see the success he had in college, when he went 27-1 as a starter.
For a full look at J.J. McCarthy as a prospect, check out our draft profile on him below…
Barth's 2024 Draft Profiles: Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy
After winning the National Championship, Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy is on to the NFL. The least-experienced of the top quarterbacks in this draft, the projections on him have quite the range – from the top 10 to outside of the top 100.
J.J. McCarthy scouting report
Nov 4, 2023; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) in the second half against the Purdue Boilermakers at Michigan Stadium. Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Background
College: Michigan
Age: 21
Height: 6’3
Weight: 202
Awards: All-Big Ten First Team (2023), All-Big Ten Second Team (2022)
McCarthy was a four-star recruit coming out of IMG Academy, and the sixth-ranked quarterback in the Class of 2019. He played in mop-up roles as a freshman, then won the starting job in camp his sophomore year.
In his two full seasons as a starter McCarthy went 27-1, leading the Wolverines to two College Playoff Appearances. He led the sixth-highest scoring offense in the nation in 2022, when the 14th-highest last year. After this year’s Rose Bowl win, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh called him “the greatest quarterback in University of Michigan—college football history…in a college career there’s been nobody at Michigan better than J.J.”
For more player breakdowns, scouting reports, and all things 2024 NFL Draft, check out the 98.5 The Sports Hub Draft Hub page.
