Who should be picked Highest in the NFL Draft: J.J. McCarthy, Michael Penix or Bo Nix

[mdonnelly21]

Who should be picked Highest in the NFL Draft: J.J. McCarthy, Michael Penix or Bo Nix

[Daniel]

I think Nix is a first round talent. Hasn’t been asked to make many difficult throws, but the tools are all there. Great height/weight, athletic as you want him to be, big arm, and the ability to move an offense the way it needs to be based on the situation.

Penix has the injury history, a ridiculous roster of receivers, and a gimmicky offense. Not to mention his age. He’s a great college player to be sure (and was robbed by the Heisman voters), but I also don’t see any special traits that he has either. He’s a second to third round talent.

McCarthy is just the QB of the best team in college ball and has no business neing drafted before day 3. The gap between Penix and him is bigger than the gap between Williams and Penix.

[MikeT14]

Right now my order is 

Nix
Penix

McCarthy

[Rich7sena]

Right now, I would say Penix. Before this past weekend, I would have said Nix. But, it's close. Lost in the CFP hype was Nix's performance in the Fiesta Bowl, which was really good statistically even if there weren't a lot of bona fide NFL throws.

I expect McCarthy to go ahead of both if he declares, though. His youth and physical traits are like NFL scout/coach catnip.

 

Edited January 4 by Rich7sena

[MagicMT]

2 hours ago, Rich7sena said:

I expect McCarthy to go ahead of both if he declares, though. His youth and physical traits are like NFL scout/coach catnip.

 

What physical traits will make the GMs/scouts salivate? Genuine question I just don't see anything popping on tape when I watch McCarthy. 

[Rich7sena]

Just now, MagicMT said:

What physical traits will make the GMs/scouts salivate? Genuine question I just don't see anything popping on tape when I watch McCarthy. 

I felt the same at first, but I think last year's TCU game was telling of what his true ability is since Michigan had to throw to stay in the game. He does have a strong arm and throws intermediate digs and outs pretty well. He's also pretty athletic, even if he's not especially agile. And, he has good height and has the frame to put on more size. A lot is left to the imagination with him. I am very skeptical, but have come around to seeing the raw material.

I suspect if Michigan wins the National Championship, he will declare. I especially think he declares if Harbaugh leaves. But, with NIL, there is always a chance he comes back and puts out more usable film. If he does and develops further, he would have the inside track to go #1 next year.

[Daniel]

See, just raw material isn't enough.  This QB class is full of raw material QBs, and most of them actually play QB like an NFL QB.  The NFL team with the fewest attempts by a QB per game is San Fran, and they're averaging more than 29 throws per game.  McCarthy crossed that mark only three times this season, throwing 30 times against Iowa and ECU, and 37 times against Purdue.  So other than Purdue, he is throwing at like the NFL's lowest rate.

No QB in college has less asked of them than McCarthy, and even then, his stat line isn't that impressive.  73.2% completion, 22 TDs to 4 INTs, 3 rushing TDs, 171 rushing yards, 18 sacks, and a season long throw of 54 yards.  For comparison, Penix has 66.7, 35 to 9, 3 rushing TDs, 19 yards, 10 sacks, and three games where he had a longer throws than McCarthy's longest.  Nix has 77.4, 45 to 3, 6 rushing TDs, 234 yards, 5 sacks, and four games with a throw longer than McCarthy's season long.

And are his physical traits even that good?  He's 6'3" and 202, so he's shorter than or the same height as: Penix, Daniels, Maye, Milton, Pratt, and many others.

And lighter than: Nix, Penix, Daniels, Maye, Williams, Ward, Rattler, Milton, Pratt, Travis, Armstrong, Slovis, and honestly, every QB who might even be drafted except for Ewers and Tagovailoa.

His arm doesn't seem huge.  It's not a weak arm, but it's not so big that anyone would want him for his arm specifically.  And it's definitely weaker than Nix, Milton, and Rattler's.  He's athletic, but doesn't look as athletic as Travis, Nix, Penix, or Milton.  And almost every draftable QB has thrown more passes than he has.

What can you get from McCarthy that half a dozen prospects don't offer more of?

[Scoundrel]

21 minutes ago, Daniel said:

See, just raw material isn't enough.  This QB class is full of raw material QBs, and most of them actually play QB like an NFL QB.  The NFL team with the fewest attempts by a QB per game is San Fran, and they're averaging more than 29 throws per game.  McCarthy crossed that mark only three times this season, throwing 30 times against Iowa and ECU, and 37 times against Purdue.  So other than Purdue, he is throwing at like the NFL's lowest rate.

No QB in college has less asked of them than McCarthy, and even then, his stat line isn't that impressive.  73.2% completion, 22 TDs to 4 INTs, 3 rushing TDs, 171 rushing yards, 18 sacks, and a season long throw of 54 yards.  For comparison, Penix has 66.7, 35 to 9, 3 rushing TDs, 19 yards, 10 sacks, and three games where he had a longer throws than McCarthy's longest.  Nix has 77.4, 45 to 3, 6 rushing TDs, 234 yards, 5 sacks, and four games with a throw longer than McCarthy's season long.

And are his physical traits even that good?  He's 6'3" and 202, so he's shorter than or the same height as: Penix, Daniels, Maye, Milton, Pratt, and many others.

And lighter than: Nix, Penix, Daniels, Maye, Williams, Ward, Rattler, Milton, Pratt, Travis, Armstrong, Slovis, and honestly, every QB who might even be drafted except for Ewers and Tagovailoa.

His arm doesn't seem huge.  It's not a weak arm, but it's not so big that anyone would want him for his arm specifically.  And it's definitely weaker than Nix, Milton, and Rattler's.  He's athletic, but doesn't look as athletic as Travis, Nix, Penix, or Milton.  And almost every draftable QB has thrown more passes than he has.

What can you get from McCarthy that half a dozen prospects don't offer more of?

The ability to read stolen signs 

[THE DUKE]

Penix is the only one I would take a shot with as a GM, and if that was my plan A, then my job is probably in trouble.