NFL Draft 2024 Rumors: Rival Execs Predict J.J. McCarthy to Commanders at No. 2

Doric SamMarch 25, 2024

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The Washington Commanders are expected to select one of the top quarterback prospects with the No. 2 pick in the 2024 NFL draft, but it sounds like there’s a belief that new general manager Adam Peters has already made up his mind.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported on Monday that there has been speculation that Peters is leaning toward selecting Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy.

“It’ll be really interesting because everybody’s always trying to figure out, especially at the top of the draft, what the other teams are doing,” Pelissero said. “When I’ve had conversations here with executives for other teams who know Adam Peters well, who know the situation well, the most popular answer for what they do at No. 2 is J.J. McCarthy. So, a lot of drama still to come.”

McCarthy has been the fastest-rising prospect in this year’s draft class. Many believe the top quarterbacks available are USC’s Caleb Williams, North Carolina’s Drake Maye and LSU’s Jayden Daniels, with the Chicago Bears universally expected to select Williams with the No. 1 pick. Passing up on Maye and Daniels to select McCarthy would be a surprising move for the Commanders.

Washington shipped 2023 starting quarterback Sam Howell to the Seattle Seahawks and signed veteran signal-caller Marcus Mariota to a one-year deal earlier this month. The Commanders are entering a new era under the Josh Harris-led ownership group and newly hired head coach Dan Quinn, so it will be important for the team to select the right franchise quarterback with the No. 2 pick.

McCarthy threw for 2,991 yards, 22 touchdowns and four interceptions as a junior in 2023 and led the Wolverines to a national championship. He impressed at the NFL Scouting Combine and improved his draft stock over the past few weeks.

However, it now sounds like the Commanders are enamored with McCarthy, so he could be off the board well before that.