A new suitor has entered the chat for J.J. McCarthy in next month’s NFL Draft.
The Giants, who hold the No. 6 pick and four total picks in the top 70, now have the second-best odds to select McCarthy after being on the outskirts of the conversation only a few days ago.
They are now +500 on FanDuel Sportsbook to pick the Michigan quarterback, trailing only the Broncos (+470), who announced on Tuesday that they will release Russell Wilson and also hold the No. 12 pick in April’s draft.
The Vikings (+550), Falcons (+600), and Patriots (+900) are also in the mix.
Every other team is 10/1 or worse.
Vikings’ play-by-play announcer Paul Allen said on Feb. 23 that there had been “just a little bit of steam that’s beginning to emerge locally that Sean Payton loves J.J. McCarthy.”
Now, with Kirk Cousins seemingly on the outs in Minnesota, it is possible that McCarthy falls to the Vikings at No. 11 if the Giants pass at No. 6.
Still, The Post’s Paul Schwartz reported from the NFL combine that, during a formal meeting, Giants head coach Brian Daboll wanted to make McCarthy feel as if he was already a part of the team.
That reporting and, likely, some bets on Big Blue have resulted in a shoot-up in the odds board for McCarthy over the past week.
Last Thursday, the Giants were 18/1 — the ninth-best odds — to draft him.
Team to draft JJ McCarthy in the 2024 NFL Draft
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | +470 |
| New York Giants | +500 |
| Minnesota Vikings | +550 |
| Atlanta Falcons | +600 |
| New England Patriots | +900 |
| Las Vegas Raiders | 10/1 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 14/1 |
| Washington Commanders | 18/1 |
There has been some speculation from several other pundits, including ESPN analyst — and ex-Jets GM — Mike Tannenbaum and WFAN’s Boomer Esiason, suggesting McCarthy could fit in Daboll’s offensive system and culture.
The Giants could opt to take McCarthy, who is widely considered the fourth-best quarterback on the board behind Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels at No. 6.
Betting on the NFL?
While there’s little question about how high Williams, Maye and Daniels will go, McCarthy’s potential draft position has been one of the major mysteries of this year’s draft, with a wide range of possible destinations.
The Giants could also decide to trade down if they believe McCarthy will be available at a later slot, getting extra draft capital or assets in the process.
Quarterback Daniel Jones is under contract with the Giants through the 2026 season, although the team has a possible opt-out after next year.
If McCarthy is drafted by the Giants, there is the chance he could sit behind Jones for a season — or win the job outright — if they decide to move on from their $160 million man after 2024.