Most signs point to the Chicago Bears selecting Caleb Williams with the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. If that happens, the expectation is that the Washington Commanders will follow suit by picking Drake Maye second overall. But what if the Commanders went a different way, either trading their first pick or even selecting another quarterback, such as LSU’s Jayden Daniels?
Some team evaluators believe it’s possible and even mention Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy as someone who could still change an organization’s draft plans.
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J.J. McCarthy’s draft stock continues to climb
According to The Athletic’s Ben Standig, a few team evaluators still believe J.J. McCarthy is being underrated and feel he could end up being drafted much higher than most anticipate.
In fact, some team evaluators even suggest he’s still in play to become one of the first players taken in the 2024 NFL Draft.
“J.J. is going to go higher than most people think. Right now, my guess is he’ll be in play at two or three.”
Anonymous team evaluators who spoke to The Athletic on J.J. McCarthy
Obviously, Washington holds the second pick. If McCarthy were to be selected by the Commanders, it means the front office views the Michigan QB in higher regard than Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels. While the latter has a Heisman Trophy to his name, McCarthy has a national championship on his mantle.
Whereas Maye has impressed for several seasons, but his career accomplishments don’t match his peers. Yet, when it comes to evaluating prospects, Maye does appear to have everything necessary to become a star at the next level, however, many feel the same way about McCarthy too.
In the end, it only takes one team to fall in love with McCarthy’s game, and it’s possible that’s what we’re seeing, and it may not even be Washington.
