Michigan Wolverines quarterback JJ McCarthy is one of the most important players in the program’s history. However, after helping lead his team to a national championship, there appears to be one big knock on McCarthy ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft that he can’t address.
McCarthy, age 21, has already faced questions for his lack of involvement in the offense late in the year. After emerging as a Heisman Trophy candidate heading into November, the Wolverines started dialing back McCarthy’s pass attempts and became a more run-heavy team.
- JJ McCarthy stats: 167.4 QB rating, 2,991 passing yards, 22-4 TD-INT, 9.0 ypa
Related: Michigan QB JJ McCarthy expected to go surprisingly high in 2024 NFL Draft
Already viewed as the fourth-best quarterback prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft, McCarthy will be going to the NFL Combine with the hope of proving to teams why he should be a top-10 pick. While McCarthy s expected to impress teams in the interview room, there is one area that could prove to be an even bigger concern coming out of the NFL Combine.
Addressing McCarthy’s draft stock in his latest mailbag, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated revealed one knock on McCarthy shared by a scout that even came with a bit of a concerning NFL comparison.
“The second thing is McCarthy’s frame. I had one scout tell me he’s built like a stretched-out Bryce Young-and it’s not like he’s that much taller than Young, at about 6’2”. Yes, he’s only 21. But looking at him physically, teams have concerns about how much bigger he’ll get. In fact, one AFC college scouting director said to me last month, “I get taken aback seeing him in person because he’s so slight.”
Albert Breer on Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy
Related: NFL teams have one primary concern with JJ McCarthy
McCarthy (6-foot-3) has a much bigger frame than Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (5-foot-10), but the weight seems to be a major concern. McCarthy’s listed weight is right in line with Young’s weight (205 pounds) as a rookie season, which does raise some concerns about how McCarthy’s long-term durability at the next level.
- JJ McCarthy height and weight: 6-foot-3, 203 pounds
College football programs also have a penchant for inflating the heights and weights of their players, so McCarthy’s measurements at the NFL Combine could prove even more crucial. If he comes in around 205 pounds and in-person looks leave scouts and general managers leave them concerned about his thin frame, it’s possible it could push him down a few spots in the first round.
