ESPN's Dan Orlovsky believes J.J. McCarthy will be an "early favorite" for NFL OROY with Vikings

Michigan's J.J. McCarthy has not taken a snap in the NFL — nor has he been selected in the NFL draft yet — and he has some lofty expectations already put on him.

Strategy and scheme aside, it's understandable as the former Wolverines quarterback not only is coming off a national championship title run but also has risen significantly in recent NFL mock drafts — including the USA TODAY Network's — since his showing at the 2024 NFL Combine.

On Monday during ESPN's 'NFL Live', former NFL quarterback and noted McCarthy fan Dan Orlovsky went out and predicted that the 6-foot-3 gunslinger would be a top candidate for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year if he went to the Minnesota Vikings — which has been one of the more common landings spots McCarthy has been linked to in mock drafts.

REQUIRED READING: 2024 NFL mock draft: Where all 18 Michigan Wolverine prospects are projected to land

"One of the things that I've become frustrated with is people talking about him like he doesn't have remarkable arm talent, like remarkable ability to throw the football," Orlovsky said. "And in the play action pass game, which is what he ran a ton in Michigan and what he would run a ton at Minnesota, I think he's the best in this class when it comes to operating that stuff, seeing the defense, playing with multiple personnel and making some of throws.

"... That's all over what Minnesota in with the Vikings want to do with Kevin O'Connell. ... I would tell you this, if Minnesota takes him, he is the by far early favorite for offensive rookie of the year. With the talent that they have in the scheme, it's the ideal place for him."

While McCarthy's draft stock has risen from a projected mid-first-round draft pick to a top-five pick since he declared for the NFL draft and Orlovsky highlighted this, the passing side of McCarthy's dual-threat capabilities had also gone from slightly overshadowed during his time at Michigan and to becoming more displayed and shown in workouts leading up to the draft. In part, it's because McCarthy did not necessarily have to win games for the Wolverines with his arm as Michigan had Blake Corum and Roman Wilson amongst others also on its roster, not to mention one of the nation's top defenses. Former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf spoke about this at the NFL combine back in late February, saying it is the "most fascinating" part of McCarthy makeup.

In order to draft McCarthy, the Vikings would need to trade into the top five either with the New England Patriots, Arizona Cardinals or Jim Harbaugh's Los Angeles Chargers as USC's Caleb Williams and LSU's Jayden Daniels are the presumed selections at Nos. 1 and 2 to the Chicago Bears and Washington Commanders respectively. But if the Vikings do move up and McCarthy — which those within the NFL believe they will as they went and got more draft capital in recent weeks — it would be a solid fit as Orlovsky alluded to, as McCarthy will join a roster and offense that has playmakers in Justin Jefferson , T.J. Hockenson, Jordan Addison and newly acquired Aaron Jones from the Green Bay Packers.

Orlovsky's colleague at ESPN, Mel Kiper Jr. also believes McCarthy to the Vikings is the best fit for the Michigan quarterback:

"At this point in the process, based on everything I've heard, I don't think the Vikings can afford to wait until No. 11 if they want one of the top four quarterbacks. ... I have McCarthy at No. 14 on my Big Board, but I can see on tape why a team might take him in the top five. He has intriguing physical traits and took a huge step forward as a precision passer in 2023. In Minnesota, with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson catching his passes, he would have the playmakers around him to succeed as a rookie."

J.J. McCarthy NFL mock drafts

Here's a look at where McCarthy is being projected to go by NFL draft analysts with two days left until the 2024 NFL Draft:

• USA TODAY's Michael Middlehurst-Schultz: No. 3 overall to the New England Patriots

• CBS Sports' Josh Edwards: No. 5 overall to the Vikings (via trade with Los Angeles Chargers)

• The Athletic's Dane Brugler: No. 4 overall to the Vikings (via trade with Arizona Cardinals)

• NFL Network's Peter Schrager: No. 4 overall to the New York Giants (via trade with Cardinals)

• ESPN’s Kiper Jr: No. 5 overall to the Vikings (via trade with Chargers)

• ESPN’s Field Yates: No. 5 overall to the Vikings (via trade with Chargers)

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: J.J. McCarthy to Minnesota Vikings? If so, QB is early favorite for OROY per Dan Orlovsky