Coming in at #30 on my list is J.J. McCarthy. Yes, it’s another rookie (Don’t worry, tomorrow won’t be). I know he might not be the Vikings’ starter in Week 1, but remember the rules I put in place for this list.
You might be wondering why I have him ranked higher than Drake Maye, who was selected 7 spots ahead of McCarthy in this year’s draft. My answer to that is simple - he plays the quarterback position better.
No, his physical talent is not as good as Maye’s. But McCarthy possesses the traits that translate to consistent quarterback play in the NFL. Namely, he processes well, his passes come out on time, and he can throw with anticipation:
McCarthy can operate the offense at a high level, getting the ball where it’s supposed to go, making good decisions, navigating the pocket, and doing all the little things right.
Yes, his physical traits are somewhat limiting. He needs room to step into his throws to get any juice on the ball. And while he’s athletic, he’s not going to scare any defenses with his legs.
But there’s no reason he can’t overcome his physical deficiencies with his timing, good ball placement, and excellent decision-making.
Sure, his ceiling isn’t as high as Maye’s, but there’s a greater likelihood that he’ll be an effective NFL quarterback, particularly this season. Which is why he’s #30 on the list ahead of Maye.