Minnesota Vikings draft J.J. McCarthy making him the earliest Michigan Quarterback selected in NFL Draft history
J.J. McCarthy and the Minnesota Vikings made history on Thursday when he was taken with the 10th pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The Vikings traded their 11th overall pick, a 4th round pick, and a 5th round pick to the Jets to move up and make their selection. Michigan has […]
J.J. McCarthy and the Minnesota Vikings made history on Thursday when he was taken with the 10th pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The Vikings traded their 11th overall pick, a 4th round pick, and a 5th round pick to the Jets to move up and make their selection. Michigan has sent some great quarterbacks to the league before, but McCarthy is the first one to be selected in round one since Jim Harbaugh in 1987. He is also the earliest QB selection in Michigan Football and NFL Draft history!
Tom Brady, the greatest of all time, is certainly the most successful Michigan quarterback by far when it comes to NFL success. Brian Griese, Elvis Grbac, Chade Henne, and Todd Collins found their own version of success at the next level too. However, McCarthy found greater collegiate success than any of them. Now with the Minnesota Vikings he looks set up to have greater success in the NFL than perhaps any other Michigan Football quarterback outside of Brady.
Despite not putting up great raw volume stats last fall, J.J. McCarthy posted a top five quarterback efficiency composite (16-pronged production model) last year. He was a special decision maker, leader of the offense, and won the national championship for Michigan. When I talked to him at the NFL Combine I asked him about his decision making and being so efficient without relying on volume or rhythm within the passing offense. Here's what he had to say:
There really could not have been a better landing spot in the NFL for a young quarterback than with the Minnesota Vikings. Justin Jefferson. Jordan Addison. T.J. Hockenson. An excellent running back and offensive line. J.J. McCarthy should be able to feast right away, perhaps unleashing a side of offensive explosion we've never seen from him before.
Expect some major fireworks this fall as the Vikings offense and J.J. McCarthy hope to take a step that Kirk Cousins just couldn't quite make with them in the past.
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And if you want to watch some J.J. McCarthy highlights to get pumped for his NFL future with the Minnesota Vikings just check out the video below!
