How good is former Michigan football signal-caller J.J. McCarthy? Heisman level good, according to one former NFL general manager. Longtime New York Jets executive Mike Tannenbaum praised McCarthy during Monday’s showing of Get Up on ESPN, saying his talents go beyond the stats he posted during his tenure with the Wolverines. Tannenbaum said McCarthy could have put up Heisman-type numbers if he played at LSU Tigers, the home of fellow top-ranked draft prospect Jayden Daniels. Along with North Carolina’s Drake Maye, McCarthy and Daniels are among the top quarterback prospects for April’s NFL draft, behind the consensus top pick, USC’s Caleb Williams.
Mike Tannenbaum: Sings the Praises of Former Michigan Football QB J.J. McCarthy
Tannenbaum did not hide from the fact that he believes former Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy could lead an NFL franchise for the next decade. During a segment of the ESPN morning show Get Up, Tannenbaum talked up McCarthy compared to the other top quarterbacks in the upcoming NFL draft, specifically LSU’s Jayden Daniels.
“We can talk about wins being a quarterback statistic. Still, I fell in love with J.J. McCarthy in 2022 when he was down two points against Illinois at home, and it was a freezing cold day … He went down and got the game-winning field goal with his feet, with passing, drawing pass interference. He is a winner, he can make all the throws, and what’s really interesting to me, Greeny, is if he had played for LSU. What would his stats look like?”
Tannenbaum continued, “They’d look a lot closer to Jayden Daniels. If Jayden Daniels was at Michigan, his stats would look much closer to J.J. McCarthy’s. And that’s where this debate is so much fun and so interesting, but he can do everything, like that workout shows he can make every throw with great anticipation and really good arm strength.”
Former NFL GM Mike Tannenbaum believes J.J. McCarthy could’ve put up Jayden Daniels numbers if he was at LSU last season👀
“…If he had played for LSU. What would his stats look like?
They’d look a lot closer to Jayden Daniels. If Jayden Daniels was at Michigan, his stats… pic.twitter.com/7RV89Diyxo
— On3 (@On3sports) March 4, 2024
Tannenbaum believes their stats would not follow suit if McCarthy and Daniels changed positions. McCarthy led the Michigan football program to the College Football Playoff National Championship, eventually beating the Washington Huskies, 34-13. Meanwhile, McCarthy finished the season with 2,991 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, and four interceptions. He also ran for 202 yards and three touchdowns. Conversely, Daniels threw for 3,812 yards and 40 touchdowns against four picks. He completed 72% of his passes while rushing for 1,134 yards and ten scores in a Heisman-winning season. However, LSU went 10-3 to finish the year.
Daniels vs. McCarthy: Top Quarterback Prospects for 2024 NFL Draft
LSU’s Jayden Daniels and Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy are virtual locks to be first-round picks in the upcoming NFL draft. According to NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah’s most recent mock draft, the New York Giants will select Jayden Daniels with the sixth overall pick. Meanwhile, he has the Atlanta Falcons selecting McCarthy with the eighth pick. Daniels and McCarthy would likely be Week 1 starters with those teams in this scenario.
