Most draft predictions focus on a player's talent. Few will risk a decade of being reminded they were mistaken to mistrust a great athlete. In terms of former Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy, Tiki Barber is prepared to gamble.
"J.J. McCarthy thing, I'm tired of hearing it," Barber stated Friday on WFAN, via Matt Ehalt of the New York Post. Stop mentioning J.J. McCarthy. His tape doesn't indicate a first-round quarterback. Because much of his work doesn't translate, his film doesn't say, ‘I need to get rid of all my assets and go draft this guy.’
His Michigan scheme didn't emphasize second-, third-level reads or many combo routes, which may be an indictment of the scheme rather than him. He did none of that. He flourished in run-based games because he was good at it, as Jim Harbaugh intended."
Barber believes McCarthy buzz is due to Chargers head coach Harbaugh wanting all four picks ahead of L.A. at No. 5 are quarterbacks. Harbaugh said that would give the Chargers the first overall pick.
“The J.J. McCarthy issue is a cover," Barber remarked. "He's inflated because Jim Harbaugh keeps talking about him. He's a top-four quarterback now? Not buying it."
Barber wants his former NFL squad to avoid the Giants' No. 6 quarterback pick. “Not happening," Barber replied. Just saying. Not happening. Don't want him. Not happening.”
We can't predict which NFL players will succeed. McCarthy's invitation by the league office, which wants the top draft prospects, is noteworthy. (He declined.) Only McCarthy, Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Drake Maye were invited to Detroit by the league.
McCarthy will probably fight in round one. His boom or bust is unknown and will depend on several circumstances. The teams lack a crystal ball. Barber doesn't. A lucky guess if he's right. He may never hear the end if he's mistaken.
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