The College Football Playoff National Championship has been a breeding ground for future high-end NFL quarterbacks over its first eight years. Notable names like Marcus Mariota, Deshaun Watson, Jalen Hurts, Tua Tagovailoa, Trevor Lawrence, Joe Burrow, Justin Fields, Mac Jones, and Bryce Young have all participated, with all but Hurts becoming first-round draft picks. Their NFL success has varied.
The trend was briefly interrupted by the Stetson Bennett vs. Max Duggan matchup in the previous year’s title game. However, on Monday, a new streak is expected to begin as Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. and Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy face each other in the national title game. Both quarterbacks are projected as likely first-round picks in the upcoming NFL Draft.
The lingering questions revolve around McCarthy’s decision to enter the 2024 NFL Draft and, if he does, which of the two quarterbacks will be selected first. This adds an intriguing layer to the championship matchup, heightening the anticipation for both the game and the future NFL careers of these talented quarterbacks.
Beyond the championship aspirations at stake, one of the intriguing subplots of Monday’s matchup involves a quarterback showdown between Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. and Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy. Both quarterbacks have at least one more significant opportunity on a big stage to showcase their talents for NFL talent evaluators. The stakes are notably high, as Penix and McCarthy are likely vying for the fourth quarterback slot in the upcoming NFL Draft. The College Football
The current quarterback landscape for the draft positions USC’s Caleb Williams, North Carolina’s Drake Maye, and LSU’s Jayden Daniels ahead of Penix and McCarthy. The national title game serves as a crucial platform for both quarterbacks to make their case and potentially improve their draft stock, adding an extra layer of significance to the matchup. The outcome of this quarterback duel may have lasting implications for their NFL futures.
“They’ll probably settle out at the top of the second tier,” an AFC general manager said of Penix and McCarthy. “Jayden Daniels — if he’s not in the first tier [with Williams and Maye], he’s at the top of the second tier. But I think most will have a first-round grade [on Daniels], so he’s in that first tier.