Draft analyst weighs in on chance of J.J. McCarthy going second

J.J. McCarthy. Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

Mel Kiper Jr. weighs in on possibility of J.J. McCarthy getting picked second

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 4/9/24

Though Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy to the Washington Commanders at pick No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft seems to be picking up momentum, ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. remains a bit skeptical.

During a recent episode of ESPN’s “First Draft,” Kiper Jr. stated that although he’s heard from an increasing number of people around the league that the Commanders like McCarthy, he still thinks LSU’s Jayden Daniels is Washington’s guy.

“Even though the intel may be right and they really do like J.J. McCarthy, do they like him enough to take him over Jayden Daniels, who as I said, can you imagine him at Washington with Lamar Jackson at Baltimore as the [pro comparison]?” Kiper Jr. said.

J.J. McCarthy: QB2? pic.twitter.com/GSkk6o2IVl
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Kiper Jr. has McCarthy as his No. 4-ranked QB in the 2024 class. USC’s Caleb Williams is Kiper Jr.’s top-ranked player on his latest big board rankings, followed by Daniels at No. 3, North Carolina’s Drake Maye at No. 6 and McCarthy at No. 14 overall.

McCarthy began the draft process as the fourth-best QB and a mid-first-rounder in the eyes of most scouts, but has since seen his draft stock take off following the combine and his pro day workout.

“I just keep hearing things about McCarthy,” Kiper Jr. added. “I'm still not convinced No. 2 overall is where he's going to go, but you hear it. … I'm not saying I'm not buying it, but I'm not convinced that's going to happen right now.”

Kiper Jr. has the Minnesota Vikings taking McCarthy 11th overall in his latest mock draft, though that could change when his final mock comes out on Wednesday morning.

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