JJ moving on up
Article on SI with info on how JJ is moving up. Possibly pick #2 to the Commanders. Silly season or Opening eyes of GM's?
https://www.si.com/nfl/2024/03/26/jj-mccarthy-nfl-draft-buzz
As the article points out, there are two angles on the draft. Mock drafts, that's at best educated guesses, and what the GMs & coaches actually do.
And then there's the third angle: how did players work out in the NFL.
We can do nuttin' about none of it but it's sure fun to speculate.
So take it from me: JJ's now going 4th. No, 2nd! Hold on, he's going 1st!
https://www.nflmockdraftdatabase.com/big-boards/2024/consensus-big-board-2024
Yes it's all speculation but there may be some truth in the aggregate. Big boards, like the one I linked, are comprised of 128 other big boards and 972 mock drafts and has JJ going 10th to Minnesota.
I think you meant #11 to the Vikings.
I just don't believe that he'll be there at 11. Feels like the Vikings acquired the #23 pick solely to package with #11 to trade up to 5ish to take JJ before the Giants. It would be quite a coup for them to get him at #11 and hold onto pick #23.
I would pull a John Elway / Eli Manning to avoid going to the Commanders.
Hey now. I live in DC so I want him here. Commanders are starting from the ground up. New owner, new GM, new Coach, and possibly JJ as the face of the franchise. Things are looking up here.
March 27th, 2024 at 10:17 AM ^
Please, not the Commanders. They eat QBs and send them away broken. Maybe all the new faces will prove me wrong, but I wouldn't bet much on that.
March 27th, 2024 at 10:44 AM ^
Sorry. This is a ridiculous take. The entire front office and coaching staff change and you're going to attribute the past sins of Dan Fucking Snyder to the bad juju of the franchise (historically great before Snyder)?
It also ignores that Kirk Cousins owes his career to Washington. (Mock him if you must, but he's a top half of the league QB laughing his way to the bank.)
It is true that Haskins and RG3 could have had a different trajectory in a better organization (tragically so for Haskins). But this is a better organization.
March 27th, 2024 at 10:51 AM ^
I'll believe it when I see it.
March 27th, 2024 at 11:00 AM ^
I'll grant you there's no track record of success. But I just object to pointing at a track record of failure. Washington is a bad team digging out of a hole (often the case with top of the draft teams). So for that reason alone, Washington is not the ideal situation for J.J. or any QB.
The Bears (though perhaps dysfunctional) would be better. New England, you can argue, would be better based on the owner's track record, though not the track record of the head coach or recent history of the team's QBs. The Vikings would clearly be optimal.
Hopefully for Washington they get a QB who is put in a situation to succeed. And when you're a bad team with a rookie QB, that often takes more than one year. But I cannot stress enough how much of Washington's dysfunction and shitty performance was directly attributable to Snyder. Even when he allegedly became "Hands Off Dan," he could not stop himself from forcing the team to trade up to get Haskins because that's who he wanted even though none of his football people wanted Haskins. He tanked his own damn franchise repeatedly.
It would be so on-brand for washington to draft a QB first — because that’s proven to be the stupidest way to start a rebuild. Any young QB behind a bad line will get slaughtered. You have to first build in the trenches.
Nope can’t stand Elway or Eli for pulling that crap. It is a privilege to play in the NFL and to be a cry baby and have the nerve to say I’m not playing there if they draft me just seems wrong to me. It reeks of entitlement.
March 27th, 2024 at 10:25 AM ^
Yeah, especially as a rookie who hasn't done shit in the NFL. It's different if you're an established free agent and don't want to go to certain franchises. But a 21 year old rookie?? You should have to earn that privlege.
March 27th, 2024 at 12:24 AM ^
You're right the Vikings have the 11th pick and the chart shows JJ going as high as 10 but projected to go to Minnesota at #11.
To the East Side? To a de-luxe apartment in the sky?
As long as it's not the East Side of Chicago, I'm good with him not being picked first.
Somebody around here is old.
(Not me. I totally don't get the reference.)
March 26th, 2024 at 10:12 PM ^
I admit it, I'm old. I watched the first run shows as a kid.
Of course, you totally didn't get to see the first runs, because you're not old.
Somebody around here is old.
(Not me. I totally don't get the reference.)
Edit, your reply wasn't to me.
March 27th, 2024 at 12:25 AM ^
What the esteemed Mr. Jefferson lacked in stature, he more than made up for with his dance moves. "Wheezy" digs him too.
Silly season.
This belief is based on people who know Adam Peters and are guessing (also have an agenda, probably).
Smart money (and still betting favorite)=Jayden Daniels.
J.J. to Vikes or Giants seems more real. Or the Seahawks if he drops.
None of this is surprising to me. It's not JJs fault his coach believes you win by taking the other teams manhood.
To me JJ has as much raw talent as any of them and I actually think he has the best blend of skills across the board along with he has the it factor none of these other guys do.
If my team was drafting a QB JJ would be my QB1 mainly because all QBs struggle at some point I believe he's best equipped to handle it. Of course I wanted Justin Fields in 21 so what do I know.
Inaccurate narratives surrounding JJ and his limited skill set in a run-first offense have been highly impactful. The fact that he is an incredible and gifted player with all of the athletic tools, intellectual ability, and intangibles you could ever hope for means his ascent will eventually win the day. We have seen this inevitable reality occurring over these last couple of months.
Horrible take. All that matters is if you can say he is a “Beast”…like Oriji. Who cares about intangibles, leadership, arm talent, decision making, mental aptitude for the position, etc. If he isn’t a “Beast” he is sure to fail.
/S
March 26th, 2024 at 10:49 PM ^
JJ has all he physical gifts and leadership intangibles and toughness (played hurt) you'd ever want in a QB. His teammates love him and no reason he can't succeed in the NFL.
That said, the league is a crapshoot and so much depends on where you get drafted, how you get developed, the system, the coaches, etc. See Lamar Jackson - if a team doesn't bet on him and build an offense around him, he's probably a 3rd stringer or not even in the league at this point
It's also impossible to predict how a QB will translate to the change in speed of the game from college to pros...it's the biggest and most difficult jump for any position on the field. The QB has to process so much and the physical tools almost become secondary to reading defenses, the field, going through progressions and understanding leverage.
JJ played in a pro-style offense which helps. He is also very young, meaning he has more upside and time to learn the position than some of his peers.
While JJ played in a complex scheme with multiple shifts and packages, he did not play in a complex passing scheme with multiple route trees and choice routes on each play - something all NFL QB's must learn to process quickly.
I would never doubt JJ, but also understand he is probably best off sitting for a year or 2 before needing to lead a team as the franchise QB.
I’m hoping very much that McCarthy will succeed in the NFL, but I KNOW Caleb Williams won’t be nearly the player those singing his praises believe he will be.
Probably silly season IMO. My guess is he'll be the fourth QB off the board going to the Vikings. they didnt accumulate draft capital for this year for nothing - they are definitely looking to move up and take a QB in the top 10 of the draft
1. Williams to Bears (I predict he's going to bust and bust big)
2. Maye to the Commanders (same, I dont see what everyone is raving about)
3. Daniels to the Patriots (I think he's going to be good)
4. McCarthy to the Vikings, Giants or maybe the Broncos. Both teams want him but the Broncos dont have the ammo to move up and my guess is to get him they're going to have to deal with Arizona or the Chargers (who definitely need draft picks to replenish their cap cuts). If he slides to #6 (and I dont think he will) the Giants will sprint to the podium to turn in their card.
Oh yeah. I forgot about the Broncos. Them too.
No one likes Maye anymore. Maye is so 2023. Pats could actually end up taking J.J. but I think ultimately they will be too scared because Maye was the consensus better QB before. And they don't want the Tom Brady comparisons.
I would love it if the Patriots picked him so I could keep rooting for him. Would be weird if he went to a hated team.
See thats why I dont want him to go to the Patriots. Theyre surely less hateable with Belichick gone but I think its going to take another decade of mediocrity for me to get neutral on the Pats again. Its also insanely easy to root against Boston/New England sports. For me at least.
Here in Minnesota, anecdotally I’ve heard and seen JJ talked about more than any other player. Not that they aren’t open to others, but there’s a lot of interest at least in the commentary class here. And the draft capital they’ve acquired kinda seems to be insurance to move up to get him in the top ten if they need to.
The short story is that it’s highly doubtful he’s still out there after the Vikes current slot passes unless something really weird happens.
I don't think Daniels is gonna be good. He has a horrific pressure to sack ratio. Very similar to Justin Fields
He also will really need to learn to protect himself better, or his career will be very short
Williams and/or Maye both have a better shot at working out IMO
I’m amazed that he hasn’t gotten hurt much yet. Daniels has a very slight build and he likes to take off and run. He’s going to have to watch himself. He has one of the narrowest asses, like waist size 24” or something. I’m afraid he’s going to get rag-dolled in the NFL.
He's going to get rag-dolled in the NFL.
March 28th, 2024 at 12:07 PM ^
This
He might break in half on the 3rd real hit in the NFL
I am also amazed how Maye has fallen off in people's eyes. Hilarious how people change their views AFTER the last game these guys play. Silly season indeed.
All of this is a crapshoot - remember when Leaf and Manning were a tossup? Remember when Young and Stroud were?
I agree OldTimer, on all points. I don't trust Williams because Lincoln Riley. His offenses rely on athleticism that defenses don't have to make big plays. Driving the field doesn't happen, and big plays stop against good defenses. Check Riley's playoff stats...
Drake Maye... I've never understood the hype around him - watched him at NC a few times, and he strikes me as an average mid-level QB on an average team. He didn't lift his team beyond what they were. His accuracy is what I'd expect from an average QB on an average team. I think he gets love because NC is normally a bottom feeding football team and he QB'd a Mack Brown team to almost Mack Brown Texas results... Seems like someone the Giants would rave about and grab at #1.
I feel like Daniels is kinda similar to Williams, but with a higher ceiling because more trust. His fancy stats were at, or better, than JJ's through the season, where both Penix and Williams were behind. But he does rely on getting outside the pocket a little too much for the health and safety of an NFL QB.
March 28th, 2024 at 12:10 PM ^
Maye may bust (they could all bust or be 4 hall of famers) but he had the worst supporting crew on offense this past year amongst these 4 guys by a margin. Caleb had the worst defense of the 4.
Maye is not Washington top choice
Really hoping he falls past the Commanders. They are a sh*t show
How so? New owners, GM and coach. GM is one of the best in the business. 7 draft picks and more money to spend than anyone. If FA and the draft is handled well Washington could be a strong young team in 2-3 years
I get so confused by the ragging on Washington. I think casual fans missed that ownership changed. Can we at least give the group a chance to fuck up before we call them shit heads? Sixers and Devils fans are allowed to have an opinion, though.
March 28th, 2024 at 12:12 PM ^
Yeah it was considered the best job and threat for Ben Johnson to leave. They don't have major salary cap issues and they have new ownership and are in a traditional market with a rabid fanbase.
JJ is 'the franchise'. any team that gets him will be very happy. i just hope that its not in the norris division
I agree. If he goes to the bears, he’ll end up selling insurance in 5 years — no, I don’t trust the bears to do anything right. If he goes to the Vikings, then Detroit will be in trouble — the Vikings seem to be somewhat competent as of late.
Chicago has made a ton of changes, actually, and have gotten better coaching on the offense. I wouldn’t mind JJ going there as I’m a bears fan, and I’d think he’d have a decent rookie start to his career. The bears are going to go with Williams though based on what I’ve been seeing, which sucks because I think Williams isn’t going to be all that, IMO.
March 26th, 2024 at 11:07 PM ^
Do they? They don’t have a running game and JJ is still a raw player.
Also the Lions have the best player Michigan has produced since TB12. Odds are that JJ won’t have as good of a career as Hutchinson.
Also the Lions have the best player Michigan has produced since TB12.
The best player Michigan has produced since TB12 won the Heisman Trophy as a defensive player (the only one ever to do so) but does not play for the Lions. Hutch is great, but not Woodson-great.
March 27th, 2024 at 10:27 AM ^
Woodson was before TB12
Hope Washington picks Maye so they can blow a chunk of $$ on another overrated UNC QB.