NFL Draft 2024 Rumors: GM Thinks 4 QBs May Go in Top 4 Picks Amid J.J. McCarthy Buzz

Adam WellsMarch 4, 2024

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While conventional wisdom has said the top three picks in the 2024 NFL draft will likely be quarterbacks, that may need to be amended to include the No. 4 pick.

Per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, one general manager predicted quarterbacks will come off the board with the first four picks in the draft.

Josh Norris @JoshNorris”I had a very smart GM tell me 1-2-3-4″ for QBs in the 2024 NFL Draft

– @DMRussini https://t.co/zp5tPYI9jk pic.twitter.com/mcXCWqW8lI

The obvious implication is at least one team in need of a quarterback is very high on J.J. McCarthy, though that might be misreading the order in which clubs have the signal-callers ranked in this class.

The Ringer’s Benjamin Solak noted the feeling at the NFL scouting combine is there was “significantly more interest and excitement” from teams for McCarthy as the third quarterback in the class ahead of LSU’s Jayden Daniels.

Caleb Williams and Drake Maye are the top two players at the position in this class, in either order. B/R’s NFL scouting department has Maye ranked as the top quarterback, but he’s only one spot ahead of Williams in the overall rankings.

Solak was sure to point out that everything being said by teams right now tends to be a smoke screen, but it’s not hard to find a lot of enthusiasm for McCarthy.

ESPN’s Dan Graziano reported on Sunday it wouldn’t be a surprise if McCarthy is a top-10 pick because teams are higher on him “than a lot of people on the outside think” right now.

If quarterbacks do go with each of the top four picks, it would almost certainly require at least one trade. The Arizona Cardinals at No. 4 seem more than comfortable going into next season with Kyler Murray.

Teams picking behind the Cardinals who could have a need at quarterback include the New York Giants (No. 6), Tennessee Titans (No. 7), Atlanta Falcons (No. 8), Minnesota Vikings (No. 11), Denver Broncos (No. 12) and Las Vegas Raiders (No. 13).

If quarterbacks are drafted with each of the top four picks, it would mark the first time that has happened in NFL history. The last time quarterbacks were selected with the top three picks was in 2021.