The most polarizing prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft has his new home.
Quarterback J.J. McCarthy was selected by the Vikings with the No. 10 pick Thursday night.
The Vikings traded up one pick with the Jets, from No. 11 to No. 10, to select McCarthy.
The former Michigan star’s draft projections were all over the place entering Thursday and fluctuated frequently since he won the national championship with the Wolverines.
Now, he became the fifth quarterback selected in this year’s draft, behind first-overall pick Caleb Williams, second-overall pick Jayden Daniels, third-overall pick Drake Maye and eighth-overall pick Michael Penix Jr.
Some had projected McCarthy might jump one of Daniels or Maye as one of the top-three quarterbacks selected, and though that did not materialize Thursday night, he was widely expected to be at least the fourth quarterback off the board.
But the Falcons, with the No. 8 pick, selected Penix instead of McCarthy.
And at No. 6 before that, the Giants spurned the chance to draft McCarthy as well.
McCarthy, 21, is notably tied with Maye as the youngest in that group of quarterbacks.
McCarthy started the last two years for Michigan, and last year led the Wolverines to a perfect 15-0 season and the school’s first title since 1997.
He completed 72.3 percent of his passes for 2,991 yards, 22 touchdowns and just four interceptions last year, and recorded a 167.4 passer rating.
The year prior, McCarthy completed 64.6 percent of his passes for 2,719 yards, 22 touchdowns and five interceptions, and recorded a 155.0 passer rating.
The biggest concern surrounding McCarthy was his lack of body of work in terms of his passing, as Michigan utilized a run-heavy offensive scheme while he was there.
McCarthy threw 332 passes last year, the least in that aforementioned group.
But he possesses strong intangibles, and perhaps has one of the highest upsides in the draft.
