HOF QB Kurt Warner raises doubts on J.J. McCarthy ahead of 2024 NFL Draft: "That is a huge question for me"
J.J. McCarthy's draft stock has been soaring ahead of the 2024 NFL draft. The former Michigan quarterback has been projected to go in the top-five picks in the first round in various mock drafts. However, Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner has his doubts on McCarthy.
Warner spoke on ESPN's "Get Up" about McCarthy's game and why he has "huge" questions on McCarthy's arm talent with the former Wolverines quarterback ahead of the mega event on Thursday.
"Definitely a bunch of things to like, I like the technique by which he plays, obviously you like the fact that he won a lot of football games. But if I’m drafting someone in the top five, I want to know that I can trust him to win games with his right arm.
"We never saw the pressure on him to have to make throw after throw after throw, week after week to carry his football team. You will have to do that in the National Football League with the way the league is built, with the talent at the quarterback position, so that is a huge question for me because we’ve never seen it."
J.J. McCarthy has been a winner. He has a stunning win-loss record of 63-3, high school and college combined. Last year, McCarthy led the Michigan Wolverines to a National Championship. He has 2,991 passing yards, 22 touchdowns and four interceptions.
Scouts and former NFL players have raised concerns about McCarthy's rising draft stock because his Michigan success relied a lot more on the Wolverines' run game and defense.
J.J. McCarthy's draft stock is not dropping anytime soon
Speaking on "The Rich Eisen Show," ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said the teams are really impressed with McCarthy. He mentioned that teams understood McCarthy's role in Jim Harbaugh's Michigan offense and recognized that the quarterback could offer a lot more.
"I would say the biggest surprise, even though it's not necessarily a surprise because he's gaining momentum, but just J.J. McCarthy. Teams really are sold on him. I can't tell you how many cases I had made for me as to why he's going to go high. Usually, teams are sort of hiding that." [13:11]
J.J. McCarthy has been linked to the New England Patriots, Washington Commanders, New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings, all four teams who are desperate for a franchise quarterback.
It wouldn't come as a surprise if the teams picking low in Round 1, trade up in the draft to land McCarthy on Thursday.