Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy has emerged as one of the most polarizing prospects in this year’s NFL draft, but his stock has skyrocketed in recent weeks, making him a potential top-five pick. McCarthy’s stellar performance in the Rose Bowl against Alabama, where he threw for three touchdowns, initially placed him on the fringes of the first round. However, his impressive showing at the NFL Combine, where he met with 11 teams, and his dominant Pro Day performance in front of numerous scouts propelled him into the top-10 of mock drafts.
Betting markets are now offering value on McCarthy to be selected in the top five, despite only a handful of analysts rating him as the third-best quarterback in the draft. The possibility of trade-downs from the Cardinals and Chargers, who both have established quarterbacks, increases the likelihood of McCarthy being drafted in the top five. The Vikings, Giants, Broncos, and Raiders are among the teams reportedly interested in trading up for a franchise quarterback, further bolstering McCarthy’s chances.
Major media outlets, such as CBS Sports, The Athletic, NFL.com, and USA Today, have all projected trades within the top five, suggesting that a move could happen on draft night. If a quarterback-needy team trades into the top five, it could significantly impact the betting market, potentially removing the option to bet on McCarthy’s top-five draft status.
Another betting option for McCarthy is an exact order bet, which involves predicting the order in which the top five quarterbacks are drafted. McCarthy could be a valuable selection in this type of bet, especially if he is projected to go fourth or fifth overall, as teams such as the Vikings, Giants, Broncos, and Raiders may trade ahead of the Cardinals and Chargers to secure their quarterback of the future.
