According to Sportskeeda NFL Insider Tony Pauline, Patriots defacto general manager Eliot Wolf is pushing for the organization to draft Michigan quarterback J.J McCarthy third overall.
Pauline wrote this on Monday.
“I’m not big on McCarthy being a top-10 selection, but the UM signal caller to New England was the buzz on the pro-day circuit,”
Pauline added: “De facto general manager Eliot Wolf is pushing hard for McCarthy, and he believes he has as much upside as any quarterback in this draft.”
Before you question Pauline, it is important to point out that he is a reputable insider who has been in the business for a long time and he knows people around the league.
I believe it. McCarthy is the most polarizing prospect in this draft but I have talked to people around the league who have told me that teams like McCarthy a lot more than the media does. Particularly west coast offense teams. They like his size, athleticism and arm strength. They also like that he played for Jim Harbaugh and they trust his evaluation of him.
McCarthy is not only in play for the Patriots at three but I have been told that the Commanders interest in him at two overall is legitimate.
Both people I spoke to said the same thing. “He checks off boxes.” If that is the case, the Patriots are going to have a tough decision to make come April 25th.
For what it is worth, I still think that Maye is the guy in the Patriots front office and that McCarthy might be the other guy they are considering. Again, if you read the tea leaves, the organization spent a lot of time on Maye and McCarthy at these pro days. They did with Jayden Daniels as well but barring a possible smoke screen, he seems to be the third guy. Of course Washington will factor into this and what they do the pick before.
If in fact Wolf likes McCarthy this much, it only reinforces the notion that the Patriots are going to stick and pick at three. It will be a quarterback. Now we have to guess for the next 24 days who it will be.
Like it or not Patriots fans, it could be J.J McCarthy.