Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy oversaw Monday's dominant 34-13 College Football Playoff National Championship victory over the Washington Huskies. McCarthy completed 10-of-18 passing attempts for 140 yards, zero touchdowns, and zero interceptions. McCarthy rushed for an additional 31 yards via four scrambles, helping Michigan complete a perfect 15-0 season en route to clinching their first national title since 1997. All that's left for McCarthy to do is to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Wolverines leaned on a dominant rushing attack and defense. The Huskies' defense had no answer for Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards, who combined to rush for 238 yards and four touchdowns. Washington's high-powered offense was limited to 13 points, and quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who was under constant duress, threw two interceptions. It was by no means a legendary individual performance by McCarthy, but he has nothing to gain by returning to Michigan for another season.
McCarthy possesses an excellent opportunity to be the fourth quarterback drafted in 2024. USC's Caleb Williams and North Carolina's Drake Maye are the unquestioned prizes of the 2024 class. LSU's Heisman-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels is the heavy favorite to be QB3 and a potential top-10 selection after throwing for 3,812 yards and 40 touchdowns in 2023. McCarthy likely hasn't done enough to surpass Daniels on most big boards, but being the fourth-best quarterback in the minds of most general managers gives McCarthy an excellent chance to hear his name called within the opening 32 picks, particularly toward the back end of the first round.
Monday's events could keep McCarthy ahead of Penix Jr., who didn't do enough to inject his pre-draft stock with a national championship boost. It should also help McCarthy out-duel Oregon quarterback Bo Nix, who is also in the mix to be the fourth quarterback drafted. McCarthy has positioned himself ahead of his competitors.
There's also Jim Harbaugh's situation to consider. Coach Harbaugh is expected to return to the NFL in 2024 after hiring superagent Don Yee to oversee the process. The chances of Harbaugh jumping ship back to the pro ranks certainly increased after he made good on his promise to deliver a National Championship to his beloved alma mater.
Harbaugh could begin negotiating the parameters of a contract with potential suitors as early as this week. The Los Angeles Chargers, Carolina Panthers, and Las Vegas Raiders are expected to be among the contenders. Assuming Harbaugh follows through, does McCarthy really want to tie his draft stock in 2025 to a new coaching staff? Learning a new offense would represent an unnecessary risk for McCarthy.
By completing the mission Monday, McCarthy proved he's a high-level game manager with enough arm talent and athletic ability to play inside and outside of structure. McCarthy's pre-draft stock will never be higher than it is now. He must take advantage by declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft. His immediate focus should be continuing his momentum at the NFL Scouting Combine and Michigan's pro day.
