NFL News NFL News, Reports and Updates
Bowl season has been something to behold, with opt-outs, the transfer portal and coaching changes affecting the on-field product. The games have been watered down at times and mostly unpredictable.
But the College Football Playoff have been immune to these changes. And on Jan. 1 — when Alabama meets Michigan in the Rose Bowl, and Texas meets Washington in the Sugar Bowl — here’s a player from each team I’ll be most excited to see. For some, it will be a chance to confirm what we witnessed during the fall; for others, it will be one last opportunity to prove their bona-fides as high-round picks in the 2024 NFL Draft and difference-makers at the next level.
J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
Caleb Williams and Drake Maye are the favorites to be the first two quarterbacks drafted on April 25, 2024, and Heisman winner Jayden Danniels has made a strong case on the back of his outstanding 2023 season that he deserves to be no worse than QB3. In fact, there will be serious conversations about even that.
A year ago, we all knew that CJ Stroud was the most accurate passer in the draft class, but he proved against Georgia that he was a high-end athlete who could consistently win out of structure. There are no such concerns about McCarthy’s athleticism, but like Stroud, he can use these playoffs to show that he can not only be a complete quarterback, but that he deserves to be one of the first players drafted next spring.
Unlike Stroud, the questions about McCarthy start with his ability to push the ball down the field, and to make consistently good decisions when doing so. He has the arm strength to make every throw, but what frequently showed up on tape was McCarthy’s unwillingness to make the tight-window throws downfield, the tight-window throws he’ll be required to make in the NFL every week. Against Alabama, I want to see him get through his reads and trust himself to rip the intermediate…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2024-nfl-draft-prospects-who-can-improve-their-draft-stock-with-big-college-football-playoff-performances/
Author : Ryan Wilson
Publish date : 2024-01-01 14:36:52
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
