Former Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy has captured the attention of NFL scouts and analysts at the 2024 NFL Draft Combine, surpassing expectations with his impressive measurements. Once a polarizing prospect, McCarthy now finds himself in the running to be a top 5 pick in the upcoming draft.

One of the concerns surrounding McCarthy was his perceived lack of size, which led to doubts about his durability. However, at the combine, prospects undergo thorough measurements of their height, weight, and more, providing a standardized evaluation that counters inflated numbers often seen at the college level.

Among the consensus top 5 prospects, McCarthy's measurements stood out. He measured in at 6'2 4/8" and weighed 219 lbs. This marks a significant increase of 10 lbs from his listing at Michigan at the start of the season. Notably, McCarthy also outweighed projected #1 pick Caleb Williams and Oregon QB Bo Nix, while also standing taller than them. Only Drake Maye was larger than McCarthy among this highly touted group.

NFL Draft analyst Louis Riddick shared during a segment at the combine that there are rumors of McCarthy being a potential top 5 selection. This news comes as McCarthy met with several teams at the combine including the Chicago Bears (No. 1 pick, No. 9 pick), Washington Commanders (No. 2 pick), New England Patriots (No. 3 pick), New York Giants (No. 6 pick), Minnesota Vikings (No. 11 pick), Denver Broncos (No. 12 pick), Las Vegas Raiders (No. 13 pick), Seattle Seahawks (No. 16 pick), and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 26 pick).

Experts believe that McCarthy could be an enticing option for teams within the top 5, including the top 3 picks or a team looking to trade up with either Arizona or Los Angeles. The combination of his impressive measurements, potential, and meetings with various teams has solidified McCarthy's rising draft stock.

As the NFL Draft approaches, all eyes will be on J.J. McCarthy, as teams weigh his immense talent against any potential concerns about his size. McCarthy's performance at the combine has certainly put him in contention for a coveted spot among the top selections in the 2024 NFL Draft.