NFL Exec Predicts J.J. McCarthy, Michael Penix Jr. to Be Drafted Higher Than Expected

The 2024 NFL draft class is chock full of quarterback prospects, and it sounds like as many as six have the potential to be selected in the first round.

ESPN's Mike Reiss reported that while "many assume the choice would be between LSU's Jayden Daniels and North Carolina's Drake Maye if the Bears select Southern California's Caleb Williams at No. 1," the other three "highly-rated QBs with first-round potential" are Michigan's J.J. McCarthy, Washington's Michael Penix Jr. and Oregon's Bo Nix. One NFL executive predicted to Reiss "that McCarthy and Penix could go higher than some currently anticipate."

McCarthy and Penix have been tied together for months after they faced off in this year's national championship game, with McCarthy's Wolverines earning the victory.

In the latest draft big board, B/R's NFL Scouting Department ranks McCarthy as the fourth-best quarterback in this year's draft class, with Penix ranked right behind him at No. 5.

However, B/R NFL scout Derrik Klassen gave McCarthy a second-round grade while Penix received a third-round grade. Still, it wouldn't be a surprise for quarterback-needy teams to take a chance on them earlier than that. In B/R's most recent mock draft, McCarthy was predicted to be selected with the No. 8 pick by the Atlanta Falcons and Penix was projected to be the No. 44 pick by the Las Vegas Raiders.

The 2024 draft is a little over a month away, so McCarthy and Penix still have time to work their way up the draft boards.