Michigan football QB J.J. McCarthy projected to go in top 5 again

There isn’t a prospect in the NFL draft rising faster than Michigan football quarterback J.J. McCarthy and a new ESPN mock draft once again has the Wolverines signal-caller going in the top five.

It’s wild that some folks believed McCarty wouldn’t be a first-round pick. But even some Michigan football fans scoffed at the idea this past summer.

No one is doubting it now. McCarthy seemed to cement his status as a top-10 pick with a stellar pro day workout, one that former Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh called, “the best throwing day I’ve ever seen.”

Harbaugh also called McCarthy, “The best quarterback in the draft.” That’s not new. Harbaugh has been pounding the table for the best (college) Michigan football quarterback of all time to be the No. 1 pick all spring.

Latest mock draft for Michigan football QB J.J. McCarthy

The Chicago Bears, who took Harbaugh in the first round, hold the No. 1 pick and seem focused on Caleb Williams. There has been chatter about the Washington Commanders taking J.J. McCarthy with the second overall pick, but the latest ESPN Mock Draft has the Broncos selecting him at No. 4.

Of course, that follows a trade with Arizona to move up. The Patriots hold the No. 3 pick, but ESPN projects them trading it to the Vikings, who are then projected to draft Drake Maye.

As a Lions fan, that would be fine with me. I want no part of J.J. McCarthy in the NFC North. ESPN also projections Marvin Harrison Jr. to Harbaugh’s Chargers at No. 5, which would be a whole different storyline.

Harrison is the best wideout in the draft, and unlike Ohio State fans in the case of McCarthy, Michgan football folks can recognize talent on the other side — even players like Harrison Jr. are 0-3 against the Wolverines.