Another Michigan Quarterback? J.J. McCarthy Details 'Amazing' Patriots Interview
Here we go again.
The New England Patriots are in a position to stick with a familiarly victorious formula at the upcoming NFL Draft, namely by turning to the services of a University of Michigan quarterback. Currently seated in the third overall slot, the Patriots will have the relative pick of the passing litter and will be in prime territory to enlist one of the raved-about rookies in the 2024 quarterback class, including Ann Arbor's J.J. McCarthy.
The Illinois native is one of Tom Brady's many successors at the Big House after he began an epic career with New England in 2000. McCarthy, who quarterbacked Michigan to a national title in January (as well as a 27-1 record in two seasons as a collegiate starter), confirmed that he met with the Patriots during his public statements at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY SPORTS
"Coach (Jerod) Mayo, awesome guy, (he) asked some really great questions," McCarthy said, per Mark Daniels of MassLive. "You can definitely tell he's been around this process for a long time and been a part of it. (I had) great interactions and it would be an honor to be a part of their organization."
Conversations around the Patriots and Blue-branded quarterbacks obviously begin and end with Brady, whose Foxborough follies are well, perhaps even excessively, documented.
After a strong showing in the Indianapolis prospect showcase, there's an outside shot his name could be written on the Patriots' draft card. There's probably a little too much ground for McCarthy to make up to hear his name called at No. 3 but if the Patriots trade down, McCarthy's presence would probably be one of the primary incentives to do so.
If his professional helmet were to feature a Flying Elvis decal, McCarthy would face one of the steepest uphill battles in NFL history by trying to surpass, or even come anything remotely close to, anything Brady accomplished in the same hat. But if any incoming prospect is well-versed in the art of surpassing the arguable greatest of all time, it's McCarthy, who has Brady beat in almost every major offensive category in the Wolverine archives (admittedly with more snaps).
McCarthy, however, hopes his box scores don't come to define him.
"Stats, for me, wasn't really the big thing," McCarthy said, per Tony Garcia of the Detroit Free Press. "All I cared about was being the best teammate I could possibly be, be the best quarterback I can possibly be, whatever was asked of me.
"The only stat I care about is W's and we did pretty good in that category."
The 2024 NFL Draft will be held on April 25-27 in Detroit.
