INDIANAPOLIS — After demonstrating his talent for three years at Michigan, J.J. McCarthy showcased himself to NFL franchises this week at the NFL Combine.
McCarthy contributed to three Big Ten Championship-winning teams, including back-to-back titles as the starter in 2022 and 2023. He helped guide U-M to the top of the college football world as a junior, as he quarterbacked Michigan to a 15-0 record, a Rose Bowl win and the College Football Playoff National Championship.
Jim Harbaugh has not been shy about his praise for McCarthy, calling him Michigan’s best-ever college QB. But he put up fewer countable stats in Ann Arbor in large part because of the program’s run-first offense, and that meant a bigger spotlight on McCarthy during his drill work at the NFL Combine.
Below, we look at McCarthy’s week at the NFL Combine, his scouting profile and where he might be selected in the 2024 NFL Draft.
J.J. McCarthy’s measurements at the NFL Combine
Height: 6-foot-2 4/8 (55.7th percentile among quarterbacks in NFL Combine history, per RAS.Football)
J.J. McCarthy: NFL Combine takeaways
– McCarthy was listed at 202 pounds on the Michigan football roster ahead of the 2023 season, and one of the bigger question marks about his NFL longevity concerns his frame. He alleviated some of those concerns by weighing in at 219 pounds in Indianapolis while still logging elite numbers in the 3-cone drill and shuttle run. That 6.82-second time in the 3-cone drill was the sixth-best result among all prospects at the 2024 NFL Combine, giving concrete evidence to the speed, change of direction and agility McCarthy showed while at Michigan.
– The other objective stats: McCarthy’s hand size (9 inches) is below average for an NFL quarterback, though not worryingly so. When his throw speed was measured, McCarthy had the second-hardest throw of the day at 61 mph, trailing only Joe Milton. Arm strength was not a concern for McCarthy among scouts, but it was beneficial for him to support his game tape with the number on the radar gun.
– The quarterbacks perceived as the top options in the 2024 NFL Draft — Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye — did not throw at the NFL Combine, putting the spotlight on the Michigan signal-caller. Those drills are evaluated through a subjective lens, and QBs at the Combine are passing to receivers they’ve never thrown to before. McCarthy’s reps at the NFL Combine overall went well, with the QB displaying good arm strength on fly routes and impressing with his accuracy and timing on short throws. Analysts have noted McCarthy has mechanical flaws when throwing to the left sideline on intermediate throws or longer, and some of those struggles appeared in Indianapolis. On the whole, McCarthy’s throwing drills showcased a lot of positives, but franchises will be interested to see how he fares at Michigan’s pro day later this month when throwing to receivers with whom he’s familiar.
– Speaking of NFL interest: McCarthy said he had formal meetings with the following NFL teams: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders, New England Patriots, New York Giants, Atlanta Falcons, Minnesota Vikings, Las Vegas Raiders, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks. Those franchises own six of the top-10 picks at the 2024 Draft. McCarthy also has private workouts scheduled with a couple of (unnamed) teams, and all 32 will be in attendance for the U-M pro day.
