J.J. McCarthy discusses rising NFL Draft stock at pro day

Many throughout the NFL community have spent portions of March discussing the rising draft stock of Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy. 

McCarthy addressed the matter at Michigan's pro day on Friday.

"I’m a pretty unique guy when it comes to the quarterback position with the meditation and all that," McCarthy said, as shared by Austin Meek of The Athletic. "(Teams) are gravitating toward that, it seems like." 

Specifically, McCarthy was referencing his pregame meditation routine that went viral before he and the Wolverines faced the Alabama Crimson Tide in the College Football Playoff semifinal on Jan. 1. He completed 17 of 27 passes for 221 yards and three touchdowns to guide Michigan to a 27-20 overtime win over Alabama. 

While some scouts reportedly say McCarthy does nothing "great" as it pertains to on-the-field play, ESPN NFL Draft analysts Mel Kiper Jr. and Matt Miller noted this week that McCarthy's performances in the biggest games of this past season resulted in mock drafts routinely listing the national champion as a top-six or even a top-four pick. 

USC Trojans star Caleb Williams, LSU Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels and North Carolina Tar Heels starter Drake Maye are all expected to be drafted before McCarthy hears his name on the night of April 25. 

"It’s about potential, traits, character — all that little stuff," McCarthy said about his college résumé compared to those possessed by other top-tier quarterback prospects. "You could throw for 5,000 yards in a year, but if you have awful character and your teammates don’t like you, what’s that going to do for you? I pride myself on the intangibles and being able to be a leader." 

The New York Giants reportedly hope that McCarthy will fall to them at draft pick No. 6, but it's believed that the Minnesota Vikings could move up from choice No. 11 to either No. 3 or No. 4 in the draft order to steal a quarterback from Big Blue. The New England Patriots will enter the weekend holding the draft's third pick and seem set on grabbing either Maye or McCarthy via that selection, but they could sell No. 3 for multiple draft assets as late as April 25.