Why Michigan football fans in Detroit aren't thrilled J.J. McCarthy drafted to Vikings
Michigan football fans watching the NFL draft in Detroit on Thursday night offered mixed feelings about watching beloved quarterback J.J. McCarthy go to the Minnesota Vikings in Round 1, 10th overall.
McCarthy was a top-10 pick, becoming the highest-drafted quarterback all-time, passing his former coach Jim Harbaugh. McCarthy ended his Michigan career with a 27-1 record and left the program on top with a national championship in 2023.
However, McCarthy was the fifth quarterback selected in this year's draft. He was picked after Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and Michael Penix Jr., who all went in the top eight picks.
A Vikings fan stopped Julian Medina,15, so he could get a picture with his McCarthy jersey. Medina, of Laingsburg, located just northeast of Lansing, said McCarthy is primed to perform well.
"He's got weapons, like Justin Jefferson," he said.
That's the problem, said Matt Laun, a 36 year old Michigan and Lions fan.
"It's gonna suck," he said, moments after cheering for McCarthy. "It's gonna suck to root against him."
Although gear for the Lions and other NFL franchises made up the majority of swag at the draft, quite a few people wore their Michigan jerseys and other Maize and Blue garb.
Will McDowell, 35, of Detroit brought his makeshift championship belt to the draft. Before the draft he said he wants McCarthy to succeed, but really didn't want him in the NFC North.
"I'm gonna be bummed when I see Aidan Hutchinson hit him at least twice a year," he said, before the Vikings took McCarthy.
McCarthy, 21, led the Wolverines to a 15-0 record and a national championship last season. However, the fact he threw relatively few passes compared with other top quarterback prospects left him as something of an unknown to some scouts and teams.
He’s the first Michigan quarterback taken in the opening round of the draft since Jim Harbaugh went to the Bears in 1987. There was some speculation that Harbaugh, McCarthy’s coach while at Michigan and current leader of the L.A. Chargers, might trade away star Justin Herbert to land his former protégé.
But in the end, it was not meant to be.
Social media reaction
Michigan fans were happy with the landing spot despite playing Detroit twice a year, while a lot of people were miffed or confused McCarthy went fifth.
When the Vikings interviewed Jim Harbaugh a couple years ago they were just gathering intel on JJ McCarthy. Classic.
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) April 26, 2024
Belichick likes JJ McCarthy a lot.
— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) April 26, 2024
— Championship Connoisseur (@UMvsEveryone) April 26, 2024
JJ McCarthy is heading to Minnesota! #nfldraft The CFB National Champion QB finished no. 26 in the 2021 ESPN 300 🔥 pic.twitter.com/NcblzKZuvA
— SportsCenter NEXT (@SCNext) April 26, 2024
JJ McCarthy: Top 10 draft pick.
— Josh 〽️ (@UMFanJosh) April 26, 2024
I’m not going to love J.J. McCarthy playing for a division rival that Detroit has to face twice a season. But I absolutely love the fit for him in Minnesota. I truly believe he’ll succeed at the next level and he has enough pieces in place around him to do exactly that.
— Scott Bell (@sbell021) April 26, 2024
MINNESOTA MAN 😈
The #Vikings have selected @jjmccarthy09! pic.twitter.com/S5PQEIbvaA— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) April 26, 2024
LET'S GOOOOOO!!!!!!!@jjmccarthy09 is a Minnesota Viking!#ProBlue pic.twitter.com/HkfW1bZTYJ
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) April 26, 2024
JJ McCarthy has WEAPONS 👀 pic.twitter.com/lHeVVGAzU1
— PFF Fantasy & Betting (@PFF_Fantasy) April 26, 2024
FROM MICHIGAN TO MINNESOTA 🍿
J.J. MCCARTHY IS A VIKING! pic.twitter.com/rWtcl3aZEm— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 26, 2024
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: J.J. McCarthy drafted by Vikings: Michigan football fans split on it