Keep an eye on JJ McCarthy of Michigan

He's one of my favorites this year as far as Viking QB prospects go. Insane arm talent, mobile, former high recruit. Maybe KAM will have some good insight on him due to his relationship w/ Harbaugh.

Imagine getting to draft him and let develop behind Kirk for a couple of years. Would be ideal.

J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
McCarthy has been linked to the Vikings in a couple way-too-early mock drafts because he's projected to be more of a mid-first round pick than a top-ten guy. He looked the part in Saturday's opener against East Carolina, completing 26 of 30 passes for 280 yards and three touchdowns. McCarthy's athletic tools are outstanding.

@"PurpleCrush" said: He's one of my favorites this year as far as Viking QB prospects go. Insane arm talent, mobile, former high recruit. Maybe KAM will have some good insight on him due to his relationship w/ Harbaugh.

Imagine getting to draft him and let develop behind Kirk for a couple of years. Would be ideal.

@"StickyBun" said:

@"PurpleCrush" said: He's one of my favorites this year as far as Viking QB prospects go. Insane arm talent, mobile, former high recruit. Maybe KAM will have some good insight on him due to his relationship w/ Harbaugh.

Imagine getting to draft him and let develop behind Kirk for a couple of years. Would be ideal.

Totally agree. The last TD pass he threw to Roman Wilson to go up 30-0 was a pure NFL throw. Perfect placement and a tough spot to get it into.

So much is going to change over the next few months, but right now it looks like the QB class is strong at the top with Williams and Maye, but also has a pretty thick 2nd tier that could be 4 or 5 deep. 

@"MaroonBells" said: So much is going to change over the next few months, but right now it looks like the QB class is strong at the top with Williams and Maye, but also has a pretty thick 2nd tier that could be 4 or 5 deep. 

Don't sleep on this guy, either. Wouldn't mind him in purple:

https://www.profootballnetwork.com/bo-nix-draft-scouting-report-2024/

https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/2024-looks-like-great-year-vikings-draft-quarterback

There are definitely some interesting second tier guys this year and McCarthy is in that mix along with Milton and Sanders. I think Sam Hartman has looked good and Jordan Travis balled out last night in a big win over LSU. Be interesting to see how it shakes out as the year goes on. 

Watching FSU QB prospects is triggering for me. I'm not sure why?

@"MaroonBells" said: So much is going to change over the next few months, but right now it looks like the QB class is strong at the top with Williams and Maye, but also has a pretty thick 2nd tier that could be 4 or 5 deep. 

The college season has yet to be played but I wonder if some of these 2nd tier guys are going to survey the landscape come draft declaration time & decide to remain in school. I don't know where they stand as far as eligibility remaining & I'm too lazy to look it up. Williams & Maye are locks to declare. Quinn Ewers of Texas will certainly declare as he has Arch sitting behind him & the Texas staff will be eager to show off their shiny new prize.
But the others that we've been drooling over, McCarthy, Sanders Penix, Nix, etc. might they stay in school if still eligible & declare for 2025?

StickyBun wrote:
He's improved a bunch in a short period of time. It was just East Carolina, but he's put in a lot of offseason work and he threw some nice NFL passes in this last game. Big time arm and mobility. Superb athlete. Continues to get stronger and bigger on a 6'3"+ frame. I think his stock is going to rise and he'd be selected in a spot Minnesota could actually take without comp or moving up. 

IMO, this upcoming Spring crop of college QBs is going to be the best in recent memory. Good time to take a QB.

You might end up looking pretty damned brilliant.

I had heard nothing about the kid until 1-2 weeks out from that draft (partially because I infamously hate mock draft season). A friend of mine who's a huge Ohio fan growled about him after their annual grudge match.

My hopes are riding high with the kid, and you look to have had a glimpse early on!

StickierBuns wrote:
Hold up. September of 2023?? Who's this Sticky guy, he sounds smart. ;)

Excellent call.

Speaking from experience. Be sure to stretch out when patting yourself on the back. At our age you can pull a muscle!  :)

StickierBuns wrote:
Hold up. September of 2023?? Who's this Sticky guy, he sounds smart. ;)

He's a little dog who changes names and avatars faster than old men change their underwear. You have to keep an eye on him and watch out for his various hijinks. ;)

Why it’s none other then Michigan homer Sticky Simpson  :cool: :angel:

No pressure Sticky....

StickierBuns wrote:
Hold up. September of 2023?? Who's this Sticky guy, he sounds smart. ;)

Looks like unregistered was big on JJ too.  :D

I see a reply from MB. Other than that, not seeing many early adopters…

StickierBuns wrote:

There wasn't.....and I get why. There were some false narratives about him. He started to catch fire a bit at the Combine. Came in at 219 lbs (said he was too frail) and 2nd highest recorded throw speed EVER (behind Milton), which crushed the average arm narrative. Once fans started to see he was an excellent athlete with a big time arm, it started to build.

Was it you and I on Diggs as well long before most? That was a while back now. I just remember posting Jordan cigar memes saying, Me and Sticky right now lol. 

I wasn't huge on the board before the JJ draft, but I stopped in and spoke on JJ. Ask anyone that talked to me around that time though, JJ was my guy. It wasn't close and I didn't really want anyone else. I am just thrilled it worked out for us. I will be the first one to say I was wrong if JJ fails. I don't see it happening, however.

StickierBuns wrote:

There wasn't.....and I get why. There were some false narratives about him. He started to catch fire a bit at the Combine. Came in at 219 lbs (said he was too frail) and 2nd highest recorded throw speed EVER (behind Milton), which crushed the average arm narrative. Once fans started to see he was an excellent athlete with a big time arm, it started to build.

Went back out of curiosity and looked at about 20 posts between April and August 2024 starting around page 75. Definitely a small list of I was in on JJ early.  :cool: