J.J. McCarthy Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Over the past several weeks, one of the biggest surprises throughout the process has been the evaluation of Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy. While he wasn’t seen as an elite NFL prospect for much of the season, he’s now widely viewed as a first-round lock – but maybe not a top-10 pick.

During a recent appearance on “First Draft” with Field Yates on Monday, Mel Kiper Jr. made it clear that he thinks it would be a mistake for a team to select J.J. McCarthy in the top-10 of the 2024 NFL Draft.

“It’s always tempting. Like we said, are you going to reach for J.J. McCarthy? I’m not if I’m the Giants, I’m not if I’m Atlanta,” Kiper Jr. said according to On3.

“Try to move up. If you can move up and get Caleb (Williams) or Jayden (Daniels) or Drake (Maye)? I would be aggressive, if I were Atlanta, to try and do that,” Kiper Jr. said. “If you’re sitting at eight and you cannot move up? I’m not taking J.J. McCarthy at eight. It’s too high for me.”

Kiper has been clear that he likes McCarthy as a prospect given the upside he brings, but he doesn’t seem to think he’s worth a top-10 pick.

[On3]