JJ McCarthy (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

A surprising name has moved up the favorites list to be selected at No. 2 overall at this year’s NFL Draft.

The first round of the highly anticipated event is set for this Thursday. Former USC star Caleb Williams is expected to be the No. 1 overall pick by the Chicago Bears, who have moved on from Justin Fields to accommodate him.

 

JJ McCarthy, who helped the Michigan Wolverines win the national championship at the beginning of the year, has seen his odds of getting picked second overall move significantly as of Sunday.

The QB went from 20/1 to 17/1 before going all the way down to 11/1 on FanDuel Sportsbook.

The Washington Commanders hold the No. 2 pick this year and are tipped to select Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels. While there is talk that Daniels does not want to play in Washington, it would still be a surprise if the NFC outfit went with McCarthy, especially given that he wasn’t even mentioned as a potential No. 2 selection before the odds shifted on Sunday.

JJ McCarthy’s Odds Swing Is Typical Of NFL Draft Week

Of course, this is not unusual. Odds tend to move drastically heading into NFL Draft week every year, but there is some merit to McCarthy’s climb.

The 21-year-old led the Wolverines to an unblemished 15-0 season, culminating in their first championship win since 1997. It’s worth noting that he wasn’t the focal point of Jim Harbaugh’s offense, as the head coach – who has since returned to the NFL – preferred the ground game. However, JJ McCarthy proved reliable as a leader and registered impressive numbers, making 72.4 percent of his passing attempts, throwing for 2991 yards and 22 touchdowns.

He was also effective as a rusher, recording 632 yards and 10 scores from the ground during his three years with the team.

McCarthy’s attitude towards football has made him a favorite among NFL scouts, with one of them claiming he can be just as good as Joe Burrow in a pass-first offense.