Drafting a quarterback doesn’t imply an immediate need for their contribution, thus, determining the most NFL-ready quarterback in the 2024 draft isn’t a crucial task for the Giants.
While many teams prioritize quarterbacks with extensive experience, the Giants aren’t obliged to adhere to this convention. With the sixth overall pick in the first round, they have the flexibility to focus on future prospects rather than pressing needs.
If the Giants choose to select Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy, they can afford to exercise patience. Daniel Jones, the current quarterback, is anticipated to return from ACL surgery and, if deemed fit, is likely to resume the starting role on opening day. Additionally, Tommy DeVito remains on the roster.
Any rookie added to the team won’t be expected to do much beyond adjusting to the NFL, learning, observing, and growing. Should this path lead to J.J. McCarthy, so be it.
McCarthy, at 21 years old, is the youngest among the top-rated quarterbacks in this class, even younger than Drake Maye by six months. During McCarthy’s time at Michigan, where he rarely served as the focal point, the team achieved a remarkable 27-1 record. However, it’s worth noting that Michigan predominantly favored the run over McCarthy’s passing abilities.
This makes McCarthy more challenging to evaluate compared to other quarterbacks in the draft, as he wasn’t often relied upon to take control of games with his arm. Nonetheless, McCarthy’s impressive performance at his pro day last Friday, albeit predictable given the nature of such events, underscores the Giants’ interest in him. Assistant general manager Brandon Brown and quarterbacks coach/passing game coordinator Shea Tierney attended McCarthy’s pro day, and the Giants have also hosted McCarthy and Maye for top-30 visits, in addition to meeting with Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix.
General manager Joe Schoen and Tim McDonnell, the director of player personnel, attended Caleb Williams’ pro day at USC, indicating the Giants’ interest in the quarterback.
The Giants have also evaluated McCarthy at the Senior Bowl and the NFL Scouting Combine, ensuring they have comprehensive knowledge of all the quarterbacks in consideration.
McCarthy will enter the 2024 NFL season at 21 years old, turning 22 on January 20, 2025. This gives him ample time to further develop physically without immediate pressure to play.
While McCarthy showcased NFL-caliber throws during his college career, the run-oriented offensive scheme of the Wolverines limited his passing attempts compared to other quarterbacks in the draft class.
For instance, Nix, at 24, attempted a combined total of 1,936 passes at Auburn and Oregon, while Penix Jr., aged 23, threw 1,685 passes at Indiana and Washington. Similarly, Daniels, aged 23, attempted 1,438 passes at LSU, and Williams, aged 22, tossed 1,099 passes at USC.
In contrast, Maye threw 952 passes at North Carolina, and McCarthy threw only 713 passes at Michigan. Despite this, Nix leads the group with 108 touchdown passes, followed by Penix with 96, Williams with 93, Daniels with 89, and Maye with 63.
McCarthy lags behind significantly with only 49 touchdown passes, which is not surprising given his limited playing time.
Whoever decides to draft McCarthy in the first round will likely base their decision on his potential rather than his past performance.
The Giants haven’t historically taken quarterbacks to keep them on the bench for long periods. For instance, Eli Manning, drafted in 2004, initially served as a backup to Kurt Warner for the first nine games before starting his NFL career.
When Daniel Jones was selected as the No. 6 overall pick in the 2019 draft, Manning realized his time with the Giants was dwindling.
However, Manning was disappointed when he was benched during the 2019 season after the team started 0-2, marking his final year with the Giants after a 16-year tenure.
Just a month ago, it seemed plausible that a team could delay selecting McCarthy and potentially trade up into the later part of the first round to acquire him.
Unless all the noise around him is all smoke and no fire, it feels as if McCarthy will not make it out of the top 10 — and might not be there at No. 6.
At least there is this: If the Giants take the plunge on a quarterback, they have time to develop him.
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