Former Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy expressed his enthusiasm for the prospect of joining the Chicago Bears during his media appearance at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine.
“It’s always been one of my dreams,” McCarthy conveyed, as reported by Pete Nakos of On3.com. “… Certainly would be a dream come true.”
Hailing from La Grange Park, Illinois, just outside of Chicago, the 21-year-old was initially courted by the Fighting Illini and received an offer from the school. However, he ultimately opted to sign with the Wolverines instead.
His decision proved fruitful as McCarthy concluded an impressive season with Michigan in 2023, culminating in a victory over Washington in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
Throughout his senior year, the quarterback amassed 2,991 passing yards, tossing 22 touchdowns against four interceptions, and secured a No. 10 spot in Heisman Trophy voting.
What a THROW this was by J.J. McCarthy 🎯@UMichFootball pic.twitter.com/SE4XXAHgZM
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 25, 2023
Despite owning the No. 1 overall pick and the No. 9 pick in the 2024 draft, the Bears are unlikely to select McCarthy as their top choice, with Bleacher Report’s NFL Scouting Department ranking him as the No. 7 quarterback on their latest big board.
Should Chicago’s front office express interest in trading down, however, McCarthy could pique their interest. B/R NFL Scout Derrik Klassen highlighted McCarthy’s adeptness at pre-snap decisions, although he noted inconsistencies in his ability to progress through his reads and make accurate throws later in the down.
“McCarthy also needs more work as a processor,” Klassen remarked. “He did fairly well with the pre-snap indicators Michigan’s offense gave him, but when asked to progress and throw later in the down, McCarthy is very inconsistent both in terms of decision-making and accuracy.”
The allure of McCarthy potentially playing for his hometown team is undeniable. However, there remains a possibility that he may don a different city’s colors on Sundays come fall.
