J.J. McCarthy Pro Day Draws Broncos GM, 150 NFL Personnel amid Vikings, Giants Rumors

J.J. McCarthy's Michigan pro day was among the most popular of this year's NFL draft class, and rightfully so.

Michigan drew more than 150 NFL personnel for its pro day on Friday, per ESPN's Matt Miller, and Denver Broncos general manager George Paton was among those in attendance to watch McCarthy work.

After releasing Russell Wilson this offseason, the Broncos are among the teams in the market for a new quarterback ahead of this spring's draft.

Other teams who sent personnel to Ann Arbor include the New England Patriots, Chicago Bears, Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Commanders.

The Patriots and Commanders are also in the market for a quarterback, and the Bears are expected to select USC's Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick.

McCarthy has also notably been linked to the New York Giants, who own the No. 6 pick in this year's draft.

The Minnesota Vikings, which have been heavily linked to McCarthy in the pre-draft process, did not send either head coach Kevin O'Connell or general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to watch him throw on Friday.

Minnesota is looking for a new quarterback after failing to re-sign Kirk Cousins, who landed with the Atlanta Falcons.

While O'Connell and Adofo-Mensah did not attend Michigan's pro day, the Vikings have a private workout scheduled with McCarthy this weekend.

According to Miller, McCarthy had a "clean" throwing session that lasted roughly 25 minutes.

Bleacher Report's NFL Scouting Department lists McCarthy as the fourth-best quarterback available in this year's draft class behind Williams, UNC's Drake Maye and LSU's Jayden Daniels.

B/R NFL Scout Derrik Klassen wrote of McCarthy:

"McCarthy fits best in a Shanahan-style system that simplifies things pre-snap and leans into throws over the middle of the field with the help of play action. He has the requisite arm talent and pocket toughness to function in that system. Even still, McCarthy will take time to develop his ability to progress from the pocket and, hopefully, add weight and strength."

McCarthy is coming off a 2023 season in which he led Michigan to its first-ever College Football Playoff national title. He has been praised for his winning mentality, and it'll be interesting to see where he ends up.