Despite the increasing buzz around the possibility of Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy being selected by the Washington Commanders with the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. maintains some skepticism.
In a recent episode of ESPN’s “First Draft,” Kiper Jr. acknowledged that while he’s heard from multiple sources within the league that the Commanders are interested in McCarthy, he still believes that LSU’s Jayden Daniels is the preferred choice for Washington.
“Even if the reports are accurate and the Commanders truly favor J.J. McCarthy, the question remains: do they value him enough to select him over Jayden Daniels, who, in my opinion, could be a perfect fit for Washington, especially with comparisons drawn to Lamar Jackson in Baltimore?” Kiper Jr. remarked.
Kiper Jr. ranks McCarthy as the fourth-best quarterback in the 2024 class. His latest big board rankings place USC’s Caleb Williams at the top spot, followed by Daniels at number three, North Carolina’s Drake Maye at number six, and McCarthy at number 14 overall.
Initially considered the fourth-best quarterback prospect and a mid-first-round pick by most scouts, McCarthy’s draft stock has risen significantly following impressive performances at the combine and his pro day.
“I keep hearing positive things about McCarthy,” Kiper Jr. continued. “However, I remain cautious about the possibility of him going as high as the second overall pick. While I’m not discounting the reports entirely, I’m not fully convinced of it at this time.”
In his latest mock draft, Kiper Jr. predicts that the Minnesota Vikings will select McCarthy with the 11th overall pick, but acknowledges that his projections may change in his final mock draft release on Wednesday morning.
