With the 2024 NFL Draft to begin Thursday at 8 p.m. ET, many young athletes will see their dreams realized. One player expecting to hear his name called is Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy. Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NFL Draft odds for QB J.J. McCarthy and tab which team will draft him — just one of many SportsbookWire’s expert NFL picks and predictions.
There are a ton of ways that Thursday could go, but McCarthy is almost guaranteed to hear his name called in the 1st round. There is a wide range of where he could be selected though, with CBS Sports’ most recent mock draft pegging him as the 3rd overall pick, while Pro Football Focus had him getting selected at No. 9.
McCarthy helped lead the NCAA Championship-winning Wolverines last season. He ended both the 2022 and 2023 seasons with 22 passing touchdowns and a total of 9 interceptions. McCarthy showed great improvement as well, including his completion rate by 7% each of his 3 seasons at Michigan.
While McCarthy isn’t the big name that projected No. 1 overall pick QB Caleb Williams out of USC is, he’s a proven winner and should be among the first 30 players taken in the 2024 NFL Draft.
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NFL odds: Who will draft J.J. McCarthy?
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 11:06 a.m. ET.
FAVORITES
- Minnesota Vikings: +125 (bet $100 to win $125)
- New York Giants: +280 (bet $100 to win $280)
- Denver Broncos: +325 (bet $100 to win $325)
- New England Patriots: +400 (bet $100 to win $400)
For more odds: See BetMGM Sportsbook
NFL Draft: Best bets
The pick – NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (+350)
While the Vikings, the current favorite, are a strong option, McCarthy is being popularly mocked to the Patriots at No. 3, and he fits a similar mold to when QB Mac Jones was drafted by New England in 2021. Jones was a winner at the college level (Alabama) and an ultra-accurate passers.
While McCarthy isn’t quite there on the latter, he did hit over 72% of his passes as a junior and won a National Championship. He’s a winner, and that seems to be the type of player the Patriots target. While LSU QB Jayden Daniels or North Carolina QB Drake Maye could be on the board, the rumors are that the Patriots are “likely” to draft McCarthy.
Basically speaking, they’re going to go quarterback, and McCarthy has the most accolades at the collegiate level of the 3 and seems like a good fit in New England.
For this value, take NEW ENGLAND (+300) to snag the Michigan standout.
Sleeper – LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (+1300)
If McCarthy falls, like QB Will Levis last season, he may get further than most expect. While both the aforementioned CBS Sports and PFF mock drafts have him as a top-10 pick, the Raiders sit at No. 13 and could either jump into the top 10 or see him fall to 13.
With QBs Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew on the roster, the Raiders will be able to win games but should realize neither of those signal-callers will take them far in the playoffs. With WR Davante Adams likely looking to capitalize on his prime, the time is now to get a QB who can carry your team, and McCarthy has proven he can do that.
The Raiders will need a quarterback in the 1st round, and McCarthy, who isn’t as flashy on the field as Williams or Daniels, could drop like both Jones and Levis did. If he’s there with the Raiders on the board, there’s no reason they pass on him unless Daniels or another top quarterback hasn’t been picked yet, which is unlikely.
At this value, as a sleeper pick, take LAS VEGAS (+1300).
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