A helmet with the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit logo. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

NFL scout says this 2024 QB prospect reminds him of Daniel Jones

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 4/11/24

Depending on who you listen to, Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy could be drafted as high as second overall, but the consensus among most scouts seems to be he’s more likely fall in the No. 3-6 range.

McCarthy is one of the more polarizing QBs in the 2024 draft class, and while he’s received his share of praise the last few months — most notably from former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh — there’s also a contingency of people who aren’t as high on the 21-year-old signal caller, who was recently compared to one of the league’s more middling passers.

“I don’t love (McCarthy),” an anonymous NFL scout told The Athletic. “He’s a winner and has all the intangibles, but I wouldn’t say I like his arm and think the athlete is a little overrated. He reminds me of Daniel Jones.”

Sources: The #Commanders will host J.J. McCarthy, Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels for visits next week.

Washington taking a long look at all three QBs, as they hold the No. 2 overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. pic.twitter.com/IwzKeNAeiW
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) April 11, 2024

Jones went through a similar meteoric rise during his draft year in 2019. He began the draft process as a projected mid-first-round pick but ended up going sixth overall. McCarthy was also projected to be a mid-first-rounder as recently as January but has since seen his draft stock skyrocket into the top five.

ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. recently projected McCarthy go to fifth overall in his latest mock draft to the Minnesota Vikings, who he has trading up from No. 11 to grab him.

“I have McCarthy at No. 14 on my Big Board, but I can see on tape why a team might take him in the top five,” Kiper Jr. wrote. “He has intriguing physical traits and took a huge step forward as a precision passer in 2023.”

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