A franchise quarterback is what the Denver Broncos need. J.J. McCarthy, a signal caller from Michigan, is among your best alternatives. But are they prepared to choose him at a significant step up the board?
The quarterback position needs long-term attention from the Denver Broncos. The current signal callers for the 2024 season are Jarrett Sitdham and Ben DiNucci, but everyone in Broncos Country understands that finding a quarterback who Head Coach Sean Payton can shape and grow into a top-tier talent is his greatest chance to get the team back on track.
When it comes to their search for a signal caller, Denver is on the outside looking in. The Broncos will need to make a daring move up the board in order to select one of the highly anticipated talents because it is anticipated that players like Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Jayden Daniels will bolt from the starting lineup in the first few rounds. It will be interesting to see whether they decide to be that proactive, but I’m sure the team will ask about a potential promotion.
However, since those quarterbacks are already off the board, who would they target? That’s simple: J.J. McCarthy, the 2023 National Champion. He was one of several talented Wolverine prospects that general manager George Paton and other Broncos personnel recently scouted at Michigan’s Pro Day. It would be wise to select players from a program that is renowned for its achievements in order to contribute to the creation of a winning culture.
Here is a closer look at McCarthy, his advantages and disadvantages, and the reasons the Broncos ought to consider selecting him first overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
J.J. McCarthy is a quarterback for Michigan.
Height: 6’2-1/2″; Weight: 219 pounds; Length of arm: 31-5/8″; Size of hand: 9″
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.23 seconds; 3-Cone: 6.82 seconds; 40-Yard Dash: Not available
Michigan Statistics: Starter for two years. With 6,227 throwing yards, 49 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, and 482 completions on 713 attempts, the QBR was 160.5.
Hart’s Scouting Report
Advantages:
One of the youngest quarterbacks selected in the draft at age 21, he has a ton of unrealized potential.
fierce rival who plays with a great deal of vigor and obvious enthusiasm
Continual winner in both high school and college; familiar with a pro-style offense and the experience of playing behind center
a powerful arm that can complete all necessary throws in the National Football League
The ability to make accurate window throws across the center of the field and in traffic is exceptional. Payton loves to use these throws and concepts in his passing game.
exceptionally effective on third downs and knowledgeable about where to place the ball in crucial down-to-down scenarios
throws really well when moving and performs effectively both inside and outside of a framework.
Excellent athleticism and a surprising capacity for sprinting and scrambling
Drawbacks:
shows a nasty habit of occasionally lowering his gaze when under pressure.
The aforementioned may cause him to make some poor throws when he fails to notice linebackers or spies seated in coverage.
He needs to get better at guiding his receivers and placing them in advantageous situations so they can gain yardage after the catch. He also needs to work on his ball placement.
mediocre output in comparison to his contemporaries, but it’s crucial to remember that he was substituted out early in many of Michigan’s championship-winning games.
Despite having a powerful arm, he currently throws only one speed and lacks touch on many of his passes; he still has a lot of work to do in this area.
Is he the kind of prospect who can improve a group and people around him?
Forecast: Selection of the Top 7
Why McCarthy should be considered for drafting by the Denver Broncos
For a considerable amount of time, I have been a supporter of McCarthy and believe that he is among the finest fits for Payton’s scheme. I’ve always believed he has Top 15 potential, even though many experts and commentators had him as a late first-round selection. He has shot to the top of draft boards in recent months, but in all likelihood, the league held a more favorable opinion of him than did internet scouting services.
McCarthy isn’t even close to being the whole of himself at just 21 years old. It’s critical to remember that he is three years younger than players like Michael Penix, Jr. and Bo Nix when conducting the evaluation. McCarthy is more concerned with what he can become in the next years than with where he is at the moment. And once he gets there, I think he has what it takes to compete with some of the NFL’s top signal callers.
In light of this, I believe it is extremely improbable that the Broncos will be able to complete a trade that places them among the first five or six picks. McCarthy is likely going there, but if they were assertive in their approach, I wouldn’t mind. The Minnesota Vikings, who own two first-round picks, and the New York Giants, who seem eager to move on from Daniel Jones, now figure to be the Broncos’ main rivals for him.
April is full of surprises, but I have always thought the Broncos would rather have their quarterback sooner rather than later. We will find out in less than a month whether Denver believes McCarthy will be their quarterback of the future enough to mortgage future premium picks and possibly players.
