The 2024 NFL Draft is just days away, and there is no lack of information going around on the rumor mill.
One of the more recent things, however, is what Peyton Manning shared about the Denver Broncos‘ quarterback search heading into the draft.
What’d he say?
Peyton Manning Says Denver Broncos Are Interested in J.J. McCarthy
Despite recently trading for Zach Wilson from the New York Jets, the Broncos are still very much in the quarterback market heading into the NFL Draft.
According to the legendary quarterback, they could be looking at Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy.
“Impressive to talk to. I know Denver’s very interested in him. It sounded like this is a place he’d love to come to, but it’s a little bit out of his control,” Manning told Denver Sports after having conversations with McCarthy earlier this week.
Peyton Manning tells @joshuadover & @bstokley14 that he had a conversation with J.J. McCarthy this week:
“Impressive to talk to. I know Denver’s very interested in him. It sounded like this is a place he’d love to come to.”
More from @Shapalicious here: https://t.co/UOMEYbGuDN pic.twitter.com/0OxMrwIhN2
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) April 23, 2024
Manning also shared that McCarthy ignored his phone calls and voicemails initially, thinking it was a prank. However, he sent a text, and the two eventually got in contact. That’s when they got to talking.
MORE: Top QBs in the 2024 NFL Draft
“I just reached out and said, ‘Hey, man, congratulations; wish you the best of luck in your next chapter,'” Manning said. “I guess he thought it was a prank. He never called me back. So, I texted him on Monday from the same number, and he’s like, ‘Oh, it really is you. Yeah, I thought that somebody was pranking me.’ … So he called me back.”
McCarthy as a Prospect
According to Pro Football Network Draft Analyst Ian Cummings, McCarthy is a top-25 player in the class and contends for the third-best quarterback available.
“McCarthy grades out as a top-25 prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft. He’s a contender for QB3 alongside LSU’s Jayden Daniels,” Cummings said. “[Caleb] Williams and [Drake] Maye are separated as the top QB prospects, but McCarthy is in the next tier down, and with his profile and youth, he could command early first-round capital.
“A tremendous physical foundation is what buoys McCarthy’s profile in the first-round range. Though he sports a leaner build, he’s a high-level athlete and a high-level creator with an extremely loose and elastic arm,” Cummings said.
KEEP READING: Ian Cummings’ Full Scouting Report of J.J. McCarthy
McCarthy finished his college career having thrown for 6,226 yards, 49 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. He also rushed for 632 yards and 10 more touchdowns.
McCarthy was the Big Ten Quarterback of the Year, first-team All-Big Ten in 2023, and second-team All-Big Ten in 2022.
McCarthy and Michigan won the CFP National Championship in 2023.
