Michigan QB JJ McCarthy goes No. 5 to Minnesota Vikings in latest Mel Kiper NFL Mock Draft

John Leuzzi, USA TODAY NETWORK

15 days sit between now and when J.J. McCarthy hppes to hear NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell call his name in Detroit at the NFL draft — and it might be coming earlier than originally expected.

In his last mock draft before the NFL Draft on April 25, ESPN NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has the Minnesota Vikings trading with the Los Angeles Chargers to take McCarthy No. 5 overall.

Kiper projected the Vikings to trade picks No. 11 and 23 this year and a 2025 first-rounder to the Chargers — and McCarthy's former college coach Jim Harbaugh — for the Illinois native.

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Here's what Kiper said on McCarthy going No. 5 overall to the Vikings:

"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. They're going to have to trade up. Are they giving up too much? It's certainly possible. But if they believe McCarthy can be their long-term Kirk Cousins replacement, shouldn't they be OK with sending out their 2025 first-rounder?

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."

JJ McCarthy fit with Minnesota Vikings

McCarthy has been linked to the Vikings for much of the NFL draft process, but when Minnesota lost starting quarterback Kirk Cousins in free agency, the hype and linkage between the two only strengthened.

Currently, the Vikings have Sam Darnold, Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall on their roster in the QB room, but with all being referred to as "backups," the assumption by many within the NFL circles is Minnesota is looking to take a quarterback in the first round. McCarthy fits that bill.

Then, last month, the linking between Minnesota and McCarthy strengthened when the Vikings built up their draft capital by acquiring an additional first-round pick in this year's draft from the Houston Texans. Minnesota currently holds the No. 11 pick in the draft, but with how McCarthy's draft stock has increased in recent months and weeks, it may need to trade up and get its next franchise quarterback.

According to The Athletic's Bruce Feldman, the Vikings are "very interested" in the Wolverine quarterback.

JJ McCarthy NFL Mock Drafts

McCarthy is projected as a first-round pick in next week's NFL draft in Detroit. His draft stock has risen over the last two months thanks to strong showings at the NFL combine and Michigan's pro day. He is the No. 14 ranked prospect in this year's draft class on Kiper's latest big board.

Here's a look at where some NFL draft analysts have McCarthy going in their latest mock drafts before next week's NFL draft:

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr (as of April 10):No. 5 overall to the Minnesota Vikings (through a trade-up)

USA Today's Nate Davis (as of April 9):No. 4 overall to the Washington Commanders (through a trade-up)

CBS Sports' Chris Trapasso (as of April 10):No. 3 overall to the New England Patriots

CBS Sports' Garrett Podell (as of April 10): No. 4 overall to Vikings (through a trade-up)

JJ McCarthy Stats

  • Career: 482 completions for 6,226 passing yards with 49 passing touchdowns; 161 carries for 632 rushing yards with 10 rushing touchdowns

  • 2023: 240 completions for 2,991 passing yards with 22 passing touchdowns; 64 carries for 202 rushing yards with three rushing touchdowns

  • 2022: 208 completions for 2,719 passing yards with 22 passing touchdowns; 70 carries for 306 rushing yards with five rushing touchdowns

  • 2021: 34 completions for 516 passing yards with five passing touchdowns; 27 carries for 124 rushing yards with two rushing touchdowns

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: JJ McCarthy going No. 5 overall to Vikings in Mel Kiper Jr's latest mock

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