Commanders Draft: Is J.J. McCarthy Better Than Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye?

Does quarterback J.J. McCarthy deserve to be drafted No. 2 overall by the Commanders before Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye?

The Washington Commanders are believed to be targeting a quarterback with the team’s No. 2 overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft. Meanwhile, rumors continue to swirl regarding which prospect will get the call from general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn.

If the latest buzz is to be believed, Michigan Wolverines prospect J.J. McCarthy has become the Commanders’ top quarterback target at No. 2 overall. But is the reigning college football champion deserving of the honor over the likes of UNC’s Drake Maye and LSU’s Jayden Daniels?

To help evaluate the quarterback position, let’s look at the production of all the top quarterbacks in the 2023 season.

J.J. McCarthy, 21 years old, 6-2.5: In 2023 started in the Big Ten for 15 games 

Passing - 2,991 yards, 72.3 completion percentage, 22 touchdowns, four interceptions.

Rushing - 202 yards, 3.2 yards per carry, three touchdowns.

Jayden Daniels, 23 years old, 6-4, weighs 210 pounds: In 2023 started in the SEC for 12 games.

Passing - 3,812 yards, 72.2 completion percentage, 40 touchdowns, four interceptions.

Rushing - 1,134 yards, 8.4 yards per carry, 10 touchdowns.

Drake Maye, 21 years old, 6-4, weighs 223 pounds: In 2023 started in the ACC for 12 games.

Passing - 3,608 yards, 63.3 completion percentage, 24 touchdowns, nine interceptions.

Rushing - 449 yards, 4.0 yards per carry, nine touchdowns. 

One of McCarthy's top selling points is the way that he’s managed to protect the football during his time as a Wolverine. However, playing in a run-first offense, some have questioned whether he has what it takes to become a game changer rather than a game manager.

An obvious rushing advantage among the big three quarterback options favors Daniels, but what McCarthy has that he lacks is youth and, along with it, perceived upside. 

Back in 2021, when Daniels was McCarthy’s age, he struggled much more as a passer, throwing for 10 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while starting at Arizona State and rushing for about 700 less yards and four fewer touchdowns than this season.

The point being, that Daniels improved as a prospect over those years, so McCarthy also has time to do so but under NFL tutelage. However, no matter how much McCarthy improves, speed can't be taught. If Washington wants a mobile quarterback, as the Marcus Mariota signing indicated, McCarthy won’t match up to Daniels when it comes to fitting that scheme. 

As for Maye versus McCarthy, the age selling point doesn't apply. It simply comes down to who seems better. If you watch the tape, McCarthy lacks the touch on his passes that Maye has demonstrated more consistently. Instead, McCarthy opts to throw bullet passes, even on deep passes, which makes it more difficult on his receivers. 

Overall, when it comes to comparing McCarthy versus the other quarterbacks, he seems like he’s firmly slotted in at No. 3 because, unlike both Daniels and Maye, the Wolverine hasn't had to prove that he’s capable of using his talents to carry an offense, so much as he’s worked as a piece of one. 

Based on college production, there’s no convincing argument for Washington to select McCarthy at No. 2 overall, but that doesn't mean rumors won't continue to surface as smoke screens to sway other teams to making trade offers and give the Commanders more leverage on draft night.