It seems Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy was bought on the Minnesota Vikings lengthy earlier than they made him the tenth choose of the 2024 NFL Draft.
“Once I lined Michigan’s spring sport for Fox a few weeks in the past, I bumped into McCarthy, as members of the 2023 staff had been there for his or her ring ceremony,” Joel Klatt of Fox Sports activities revealed. “I received an opportunity to speak with him for a bit of bit concerning the draft course of earlier than asking him the place he needed to finish up. He informed me that he needed to finish up in Minnesota, saying he would ‘love’ to play for the Vikings.”
McCarthy’s draft inventory grew to become a transferring goal all through the spring, as some advised that the Washington Commanders may choose him with the draft’s second choose. Others believed both the Vikings or New York Giants may transfer as much as alternative No. 4 or No. 5 for McCarthy.
The Giants in the end handed on McCarthy and as an alternative grabbed LSU vast receiver Malik Nabers through the sixth choose. Thus, Minnesota was in a position to wait after which go from the eleventh choice to No. 10 to take McCarthy.
A lot was made even earlier than the draft about whether or not the Vikings will begin McCarthy or free-agent acquisition Sam Darnold in Week 1. Whereas it is thought that Darnold is a perfect bridge choice who would enable a rookie to sit down and be taught as a backup, Klatt predicted that head coach Kevin O’Connell will develop McCarthy shortly sufficient for the first-year professional to be able to face dwell defenses in significant video games come September.
“McCarthy is hyper-competitive and actually expert,” Klatt added. “The Vikings are going to see a man who can win them soccer video games immediately, partly due to what he does on the sector, but in addition as a result of he is such a powerful chief. He went 27-1 as Michigan’s beginning quarterback, making performs in key moments the place prior Michigan groups failed.”
As of Thursday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed McCarthy fourth among the many betting favorites at +800 odds to win the Offensive Rookie of the Yr Award for the upcoming season. Klatt indicated he loves these odds due to “how good of a scenario McCarthy is in” this spring.
