ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. weighs NFL Draft grades for JJ McCarthy, Michael Penix Jr. after CFP title game

Monday’s national championship game featured Michigan and Washington teams that were led by quarterbacks who will likely be playing on Sundays next season, as the Wolverines led by JJ McCarthy got the last laugh in a 34-13 win over Michael Penix Jr. and the Huskies.

NFL Draft stock often changes based on how players perform on the biggest stages. And following Monday night’s marquee championship matchup, ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. evaluated the NFL Draft grades of both starting quarterbacks starting with the newly crowned national champion.

“Greeny it’s been the case with JJ McCarthy really the last couple years, not having to carry that football team on his shoulders,” Kiper said to ‘Get Up’ host Mike Greenberg. “That’s a run-oriented team. Obviously the o-line, outstanding even without Zak Zinter their best offensive lineman out since the Ohio State game with the injury.”

The Wolverines were not heavily reliant on McCarthy in their national championship win, running for a BCS and CFP championship record 303 yards versus Washington.

McCarthy did contribute 31 yards on the ground and 140 yards in the air against the Huskies, ending the season with 2,991 passing yards, 202 rushing yards, and 25 total touchdowns. But his game-manager style of play in Michigan’s offense does come with pros and cons when evaluating him for the next level.

“Think about JJ McCarthy, 25 or fewer pass attempts in 10 games this year. Last 12 games threw only one interception, so he stays away from that. We remember the TCU game last year with the two pick-sixes, but overall his game management has been excellent,” Kiper said. “He just has not had that wow game, that wow performance that says I’m defined as a first round pick. He hasn’t had that yet.”

Penix on the other hand was regarded as one of college football’s best quarterbacks throughout the season, finishing second in Heisman Trophy voting after throwing for over 3,000 yards and 30 touchdowns in his second straight season for the Huskies.

But unfortunately, Monday’s national championship was one of his worst performances to date, completing just 52.9% of his passes with one touchdown and two interceptions.

“Michael Penix Jr. has had those games. The Texas game, he looked like a top-five pick in the first round. Last night he looked like a fifth-round pick. So you can’t worry about one game, it’s the body of work,” Kiper explained. “At Indiana he was 12-5 as a starter, certainly what he did at Washington the last two years was extraordinary. He showed the last two years he could stay healthy, he needed to go back for this season. Two years, two full years healthy, after all those injuries over that four year career at Indiana.”

Penix is still ranked as Kiper’s No. 10 overall prospect and No. 4 quarterback for the 2024 NFL Draft, with McCarthy tabbed as the No. 23 prospect and the No. 5 quarterback. And it will surely be interesting to see how the draft stock of the two signal callers continues to move ahead of April’s draft.

“Michael Penix Jr, I still think will be in the middle of the first round. JJ McCarthy, borderline first round pick,” Kiper concluded.