2024 NFL draft questions on J.J. McCarthy, Michael Penix Jr. - ESPN

The 2023 college football season is down to two teams and one game. And the two quarterbacks in Monday's College Football Playoff national championship game will be talked about endlessly in the lead-up to the 2024 NFL draft. Washington's Michael Penix Jr. will face Michigan's J.J. McCarthy, and following standout performances by both passers in the semifinals, NFL scouts have been buzzing about their pro potential.

How do McCarthy and Penix stack up? Where does Penix and his fantastic deep ball fit into the class? What about the all-around play of McCarthy? Are either of them — or both — potential first-rounders? We spoke with scouts and general managers to dig deeper on these two quarterbacks, including when they could get drafted, what they do best, where they still need work and how they best fit in the NFL game.

Jump to: McCarthy | Penix

Height: 6-foot-3 | Weight: 202 pounds
2023 stats: 2,851 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, 4 interceptions

Where do NFL scouts rank McCarthy, assuming he enters the draft?

Scouts are intrigued by McCarthy's game, and one from the AFC East recently compared his skill set to Joe Burrow because of his mobility, toughness, winning mentality and ability to hit every throw. The consensus projection for McCarthy among NFL evaluators is first-rounder.

«McCarthy isn't really allowed to do a lot at Michigan, but he's so gritty and tough,» an NFC general manager said. «The moxie is through the roof. And he's a much better all-around passer than he gets credit for.»

I have him at QB4 and No. 22 overall on my board behind Caleb Williams (USC), Drake Maye (North Carolina) and Jayden Daniels (LSU). That could put him anywhere from the top 10 of the first round down to a pick in the late-20s, depending