As if the 2024 NFL Draft class wasn’t packed with enough top-notch quarterback talent, the scouting combine just made things a little more complicated.
Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels remain the top three prospects, but J.J. McCarthy solidified his first-round pick after his impressive performance in Indianapolis last weekend.
Oregon’s Bo Nix went toe-to-toe with McCarthy, throwing deep balls and demonstrating great mechanics and accuracy.
The 2024 Heisman third-place finisher has performed well in the gray area of the draft, making him a potential first-round pick.
The 24-year-old Knicks presents a clearer version of the player he could be, no matter who selects him.
He made considerable progress in each of his five seasons in college ball, increasing his completion percentage, raw yards, and quarterback rating.
The Knicks finished the 2023 season ranked second among quarterbacks in all three of these categories.
This makes it even more intriguing for a team moving on from a tired quarterback situation who may not be interested in long-term development.
Given that McCarthy is 21 years old and has more potential to blossom, he may have more upside, but he needs to be in the right system.
The Knicks are sophisticated enough that if they draft him into a situation where he’s a good match, he could get on the field sooner.
Denver leads the market with BetMGM selecting Nix at +325, but there are several reasons I believe he has a decent chance of landing at mile high.
The Broncos are moving on from what will be remembered as one of the worst trades in NFL history. After going 11-19 in two seasons under two head coaches, it’s time to cut the losses on the Russell Wilson story.
Cutting losses would mean forfeiting a $39 million Band-Aid in 2024, but at least the $124 million Denver was willing to guarantee at the time of his contract would be gone.
In greener pastures, he could start as a plug-and-play under center and, if backed up by his ability, spark an offense that has sporadically shown signs of danger.
The Knicks should draw interest from general manager George Paton with his dynamic ability to create plays outside of the pocket, combined with a pro-grade arm that can hit sharp windows downfield.
These traits are what Wilson was particularly good at during his prime, and they mimic the profile of Jalen Hurts today.
The Broncos were ready to win when they signed Wilson. They’re not going to make the same mistake by signing an expensive veteran and risking more time for regression.
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There are still pending contracts and trades that shake up the prospects for the first round. Either way, Denver’s answer at quarterback lies within this draft, especially considering next year’s talent pool is expected to be weak.
It remains to be seen how soon McCarthy will be called up, but the Broncos’ best chance of being an immediate upgrade over Jarrett Stidham is when they select No. 12.
Sean Payton’s system will benefit from the Knicks’ perfect arm accuracy and scoring punch. He scored 20 rushing touchdowns in two seasons at Oregon.
If someone trades picks with the Broncos there, the Knicks would likely slide to the Broncos later in the round.
They’re ready to see their first offensive quarterback play since the 2018 draft, and the Knicks should be even more valuable by the time Denver gets to play.
