Vikings trade up twice in Round 1 to select J.J. McCarthy, Dallas Turner

Five quarterbacks were selected within the first 10 picks of the 2024 NFL Draft.

The Minnesota Vikings selected Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy with the 10th overall pick, which they acquired via trade with the New York Jets. Minnesota traded the Nos. 11, 129 and 157 picks to the New York Jets for the Nos. 10 and 203, hopping up one place to take the national title-winning signal-caller.

New York followed a pick later at No. 11 by selecting Olumuyiwa Fashanu, an offensive tackle out of Penn State, to bolster Aaron Rodgers‘ offensive line, though he might begin as a developmental project.

McCarthy’s selection marked the first instance in NFL history where five quarterbacks were picked within the first 10 draft choices.

Minnesota was also responsible for the next trade in the draft, moving up to the No. 17 overall slot by sending the Jacksonville Jaguars the No. 23 overall pick (LSU WR Brian Thomas Jr.), No. 167, a 2025 third-round pick and a 2025 fourth-round pick.

With that move, the Vikings drafted Alabama pass rusher Dallas Turner, who officially put his name on NFL radars in his third and final season at Alabama by earning first-team All-American and All-SEC honors, along with the SEC Defensive Player of the Year Award. He led the Crimson Tide with 14.5 tackles for loss in 14 games. Despite losing running mate Will Anderson to the Houston Texans in 2023, Turner shined, recording a career-high 10 sacks (tied for eighth-most in the FBS), two forced fumbles and 53 tackles.

He’ll be entrusted with helping replace Danielle Hunter and bolstering the team’s pass rush after Hunter departed in free agency.

McCarthy, a five-star recruit from the Chicago area, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 219 pounds, chose the Wolverines. He served as a backup to starter Cade McNamara during his true freshman year, before becoming the starting quarterback in his sophomore year.

In 2022, McCarthy earned a place on the All-Big Ten third team, having started in 13 out of 14 games and boasting a 12-1 record. He passed for 2,719 yards and 22 touchdowns, with a mere five interceptions, and contributed five touchdowns through rushing. The only defeat for Michigan came at the Fiesta Bowl against TCU, where McCarthy threw two interceptions.

However, he didn’t lose another college game, guiding Michigan to a perfect record of 15-0 and a national championship win over Washington, following a triumph against Alabama in the Rose Bowl.

In 2023, McCarthy had an impressive throw of 2,991 yards, 22 touchdowns, and a mere four interceptions, along with three rushing scores. There was a significant improvement in his completion percentage, which skyrocketed to 72.3, from 57.6% in his freshman year and 64.6% in his sophomore year. This improvement earned him the title of Big Ten Griese–Brees Quarterback of the Year and a spot in the All-Big Ten first-team. McCarthy also finished in the top 10 in the Heisman Trophy Award voting.

McCarthy’s statistics may not be as flashy as some of the other leading passers in this group, but his exceptional skills are seemingly immeasurable. Ex-Michigan coach, now leading the Chargers, Jim Harbaugh has been full of praise for McCarthy, even going as far as to declare him the “best quarterback in Michigan history.” This is quite a statement considering the list includes renowned names like Tom Brady and Harbaugh himself. Moreover, McCarthy’s impressive 27-1 record as a starting quarterback speaks volumes about his abilities.

McCarthy boosted his NFL status with impressive throwing performances at the NFL Scouting Combine and Michigan’s pro day. According to Lance Zierlein of NFL Network, McCarthy needs to work on his “ball placement and timing”. He also noted that McCarthy occasionally “leaves throws behind moving targets, which gives defenders the opportunity to contest catches.”

Daniel Jeremiah from NFL Network notes that McCarthy is an “athletic quarterback with a live/loose arm,” consistently demonstrating “his ability to always throw from a firm base, with his feet and eyes connected.” He also ranks McCarthy as the draft’s 20th overall prospect, comparing his style favorably to that of former NFL quarterback Alex Smith.

Some might naturally question McCarthy’s rapid ascent during the draft process, but he shares many characteristics with successful NFL quarterbacks, including strong tangible skills and excellent intangible qualities. It remains uncertain how this will translate to his professional career and how quickly he could get on the field. However, in spite of McCarthy not showcasing as much individual talent as his college class counterparts, it’s difficult to dispute the outcomes.