Orlovsky’s pick for draft’s most NFL-ready QB may shock you

Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

Dan Orlovsky’s pick for the draft’s most NFL-ready QB may shock you

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 3/28/24

Four quarterbacks are expected to be taken with the first four picks of the 2024 NFL Draft, however, most scouts can’t seem to agree on the order of which they should be taken.

During an appearance on “First Take” on Thursday, ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky didn’t rank the QBs, but he did make it known that he believes Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy is the most NFL ready of the four.

“You better be capable and ready to walk in as an adult in the room,” Orlovsky said. “I think J.J.’s experience at the Michigan program allows him to do that. … You have to have an alpha personality to control that locker room and to lead that locker room. I think being around coach Harbaugh gives McCarthy the opportunity to do that.”

McCarthy had quite the successful junior season in 2023. He completed 72.3% of his passes for 2,991 yards, 22 touchdowns and just four interceptions, and he led the Wolverines to their first national championship win since 1997.

The 21-year-old signal caller has been under a microscope ever since that national championship game, and every aspect of his game from his mechanics to his work ethic have been meticulously dissected by scouts for most of the teams picking in the top 10 of next month’s draft.

JJ McCarthy is what you would get if you typed "Shanahan quarterback" into ChatGPT.

Had fun discussing the fit in MIN with @DanOrlovsky7, who made his triumphant return to the pod! Also talked Fields vs Russ, NYJ + more...

: https://t.co/25po4TiBC7
: https://t.co/TxgAsDQq2K pic.twitter.com/U07unetjY6
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) March 21, 2024

McCarthy has been ripped by scouts and analysts for quarterbacking the best team in the country, and as a result, he hasn’t been asked to win games or even play into the fourth quarter as much as many of the other QBs in the NCAA.

However, Orlovsky believes McCarthy has other tangible qualities that even USC’s Caleb Williams, North Carolina’s Drake Maye and LSU’s Jayden Daniels don’t have.

“No quarterback in this year’s draft had more control of the line of scrimmage when it comes to run-game stuff, getting in and out of the checks,” Orlovsky added. “… J.J. McCarthy was under center way more than most guys in this draft. That’s a bigger part of the NFL nowadays than it was a couple years ago. Play-action pass — J.J. McCarthy ran a ton of it at Michigan, so there’s a lot of elements that allow J.J. to step in and play at a good level.”

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