JJ to announce decision tomorrow.
https://x.com/chengelis/status/1746343536574808188?s=61
Sounds to me like he is going pro. Would have already announced if he were staying. Go be great, JJ. May he end up in Detroit.
January 13th, 2024 at 9:46 PM ^
Loveland who's already good has chance to be special so does Morris. Both are true sophomores.
Michigan passing game issue down the stretch had to do with our tackles not being able to pass protect. 73 got beat almost immediately and JJ got crushed on several pass plays early vs Wash.
But both of our tackles could move bodies so that's what we did.
January 14th, 2024 at 8:57 AM ^
Morris literally has fewer than 20 catches in his college career. Projecting him to be special is a lot.
And yeah, the OL wasn't great at times, but Michigan couldn't scheme up open guys and Wilson/CJ couldn't get open themselves. The passing game had issues everywhere and now they have less experience and talent.
January 13th, 2024 at 8:51 PM ^
He is gone. And should be. He is at the top with only ONE loss as a starter. He can go to a good organization in the NFL and prosper instead of getting killed on a crappy team to start out. He is no fool.
January 13th, 2024 at 9:15 PM ^
The problem with that logic is that if you go to a bad organization in the top ten they feel obligated to develop you. You get a couple years to prove yourself and they'll definitely start you.
If you go late in the first round or later, you may never get the opportunity. All those live snaps that top ten guys get—even when they're losing every game—gives them an advantage over the guys riding the pine who aren't getting live reps.
There are so many QBs this year that the teams that need a QB might get one before anyone selects him. That might make him drop even more in the draft and get selected specifically to be a backup, meaning he may never get his opportunity to shine.
Just given the volume of QBs expected to be taken before him, I think it would be best if he stays. Another year with Herbert, another year to show improvement, and go to the draft with a much weaker QB class next year.
January 13th, 2024 at 9:35 PM ^
Strongly agree and not just because it’s best for me as a fan and the team we love. I think your points about the loaded QB class and what happens to QBs drafted later by better teams is spot on.
January 13th, 2024 at 9:44 PM ^
If JJ does go pro, he's going to have to kill it at the combine and in his pro day. He will have to somehow pass Daniels, Penix and Nix to be the 3rd QB on most draft boards. With his physical tools, I think he is perfectly capable of killing it at the combine. If he can't move up, he's going to be late 1R or maybe even day 2 at which point he's probably looking at starting his career as a back up.
January 14th, 2024 at 12:23 AM ^
Guys drafted as backups sometimes do well. Tom Brady, 6th rounder. And some first-rounders never pan out. Joey Harrington, for example.
We don't know what he's thinking, we don't know what advice he's being given, assuming he has an agent, we don't know what his family thinks about it. We're in the dark.
Our speculations and opinions, complete with the possible rationales, are meaningless.
Another opinion: Isn't it ironic that kids get to make their own choices about colleges and transfers, and basically control their own lives, yet professionals are chained to the team that drafts them for the term of their contract?
He could get lucky and sign on with a good team. Or he could wind up like Lions QBs in the Bad Old Days and get clobbered. But the choice will not be his.
I'd go back to school and have another year in control of my life choices. But no one's dangling millions of dollars in front of me to make the choice a lot more difficult.
January 14th, 2024 at 12:16 AM ^
Yeah, I genuinely just think it's what's best for him. Sure there's the fan in me tugging toward those points, but the fan in me also wants to see him succeed in the NFL.
Unfortunately, I don't think any of those points have much predictive value. I wouldn't be surprised with either decision.
If I had to guess, if he's leaning toward going the injuries probably played a role. If he goes to the draft now he's at least going to play in the league and cash some NFL checks. Getting injured certainly hurt his draft stock and I'm sure it would be extremely frustrating if the same thing happens next year, or worse.
January 13th, 2024 at 8:55 PM ^
Guessing he's going pro. Personally I think he would benefit from one more year. He seems to be the #5 QB on most mock drafts which would put him late first round maybe even slide into the second round. Not sure he would step into a starting situation and there are only so many QB game reps to go around in competitive football. The 2025 QB class also looks like it would be less competitive. Best of luck to him either way.
January 13th, 2024 at 10:10 PM ^
I'd argue that falling to the late first would be a better position for him. He's not gonna thrown into the fire on a shitty team.
January 13th, 2024 at 10:31 PM ^
He won't be a franchise QB either and may find himself in a situation where he never gets much of a chance.
January 14th, 2024 at 5:31 AM ^
I think JJ has all the tools to be a franchise QB, especially the intangibles. He has that "IT" factor in spades. And he can make all the throws.
January 13th, 2024 at 8:58 PM ^
I think he either stays or goes to the NFL. Book it.
January 13th, 2024 at 8:59 PM ^
If he stays another year, he improves his draft stock - probably. But agree that if he is going to stay, tonight would have been a perfect time to announce.
January 13th, 2024 at 9:00 PM ^
JJ is like the Hutchinson of Qbs with his approach and tenacity. Lions have more pressing needs, but JJ's competitiveness and team attitude/family make him a Dan Campbell type qb.
Would love if he could be a late first round pickup and groom to be Goff's successor. (Who knows about Hooker)
January 13th, 2024 at 9:01 PM ^
Everyone saying he’s gone will look like fools tomorrow. He’s staying.
January 13th, 2024 at 11:01 PM ^
He’s gone. Accept it and move on.
January 13th, 2024 at 9:02 PM ^
I'm probably reading into this too much, but every player on that stage tonight is leaving (JJ pending). And not all those guys were captains and so forth. I'd be surprised if JJ was the one guy who stayed.
January 13th, 2024 at 9:04 PM ^
Every player so far that was eligible to declare for the draft has done so. No reason JJ won’t. He gone
January 13th, 2024 at 9:05 PM ^
McGregor officially announced he’s leaving.
January 13th, 2024 at 9:05 PM ^
He could always change his mind after a few weeks..
January 13th, 2024 at 9:05 PM ^
I love that man whatever he does. He has a bright and incredible future ahead of him, whether that includes one more year in Ann Arbor or not!
January 13th, 2024 at 9:05 PM ^
JJ could improve his draft stock by coming back, but the potential rise is not worth the risk IMO. Right now NFL draft consensus mocks have him around 22nd overall (this takes consensus from dozens of mock drafts posted online). If he's a safe 1st, it would make no sense to come back unless he thought they could win another natty and maybe raise his profile to a top 10 pick. But his stock could also drop significantly, especially if he suffered an injury. Just not worth it. He won the title, he's an Ann Arbor legend and hes pretty likely to be a 1st round pick.
The last couple of days I was sort of trying to put blinders on and only listen to people who said he might come back but if you look at it realistically it just doesnt make sense IMO.
January 13th, 2024 at 9:27 PM ^
Right now NFL draft consensus mocks have him around 22nd overall
Every year everyone takes mock drafts seriously before the draft only for them to be nothing but wild guesses. They only get the most obvious first round picks right (e.g. team X selects #5 and desperately needs a CB, CB Y is by far the best CB, picks #1-4 don't need a CB, team X selects CB Y).
They usually don't even know which QB is going to be taken with the #1 pick when there isn't a Trevor Lawrence type player. We don't even know who is going to select #22 yet, but unless it involves a trade, that's a playoff team that probably doesn't need a QB.
January 13th, 2024 at 10:31 PM ^
Almost every team in the league needs a QB. The position hasn’t been this weak in my lifetime. There are only somewhere between 15-20 quality starters, let alone back-ups.
January 14th, 2024 at 12:39 AM ^
My knee-jerk reaction was to disagree with you, but then I reviewed the NFL teams and now I just don't know. By my count, there were actually less than 15 quality starters.
However, there's a huge caveat to that. I don't consider Russell Wilson a quality starter, but I'm pretty sure he's locked in at Denver for the short term. I didn't count Aaron Rodgers but maybe he has another good season left in him. Then there are the teams with guys on rookie contracts who won't spend a high draft pick on a QB. I didn't count Kirk Cousins but I'm pretty sure Minnesota believes they have a quality QB. He's just good enough they're afraid to use a high draft pick.
Basically, I would say that despite the fact that less than 15 teams have quality QBs, more than 20 are forced to behave as if they have a quality QB or they think they do.
January 14th, 2024 at 11:38 AM ^
Denver will cut Wilson this spring, if they do it then they are only on the hook for $20 million of that massive contract left, and cap hit isn't bad.
January 13th, 2024 at 9:07 PM ^
I think he'd wait for Harbaugh to decide about 2024 if he were seriously considering staying. The timing suggests he's going. If he gets into the first round, a good idea. Otherwise, not. I would like to see him succeed in the NFL. Teams give first-rounders much more of a chance to adjust to the next level.
January 13th, 2024 at 9:13 PM ^
That was probably never going to be reasonable though since he has to declare by Monday and it seems like Harbaugh was always gonna at least flirt with the NFL whether its to seriously consider leaving or to help him in leverage with a UM contract.
January 13th, 2024 at 9:23 PM ^
I don't know. The money being offered seems respectful of Harbaugh's excellence. All they ask is that he not take interviews with the NFL. I don't think Harbaugh wants to make a decision based on a relatively small amount of money, for his family. And he knows if he stays, it would be great to have the quarterback question settled.
So, two possibilities... either Harbaugh has decided to seriously consider the NFL because that's what he wants next season or he knows that J.J. and others are gone regardless and the timeline should be on the NFL's timeline (interviews now).
A lot to be said for 15-0. Who has it better? What a way to move on.
January 13th, 2024 at 9:07 PM ^
Cheers to whatever he decides.
Class act from start to finish
January 13th, 2024 at 9:08 PM ^
I think a lot more would be on JJ's shoulders next season at Michigan. He would be the unquestioned star of the team. Everyone keeps saying coming back would improve his draft stock, which it certainly could. But the potential is also there to hurt his stock if he struggled with this tougher schedule and likely needing to win more games with his arm. Hes pretty safely a late day 1/day 2 pick right now and can get a good rookie contract for a franchise that believes in him.
January 13th, 2024 at 9:13 PM ^
Lots goes into it, do we pick up any good receivers from the portal, an overhaul on the line and which running backs will be there to help keep the chains moving.
January 13th, 2024 at 9:14 PM ^
I have no issue with him leaving, but UM returns enough on offense to where the idea that a QB will have to carry the team offensively isn’t accurate. Their scheme is set up to minimize reliance on QB.
JJ needs more seasoning, but sitting a year while making millions is a damn good option. Lions would be perfect for him.
January 13th, 2024 at 9:49 PM ^
It's definitely accurate, and also quite obvious, regardless of the scheme. Just because you run a certain scheme, doesn't mean you have the personnel to execute it. You speak in these absolutes as if you've ever played or had anything to do with a real football team in your life. Stick to bigoted comments and idiotic comments about being our janitor.
January 13th, 2024 at 9:11 PM ^
I can’t believe the confidence some of you have in the “he gone” narrative after not announcing tonight.
Do you all really believe JJ would take any spotlight from the team?
Edit: if I were him, I’d leave. His legacy is complete imo.
January 13th, 2024 at 9:12 PM ^
Lions traded up to take Hendon Hooker last year, no way they take a QB period let alone early. I think JJ comes back.
January 13th, 2024 at 9:14 PM ^
Tough not to think he's leaving. Hope Im wrong but it just feels that way.
Obviously they all deserve it, and if there is nothing more for them to accomplish in college (and their draft stocks are high) then there are absolutely no hard feelings about anyone going pro, but man, it sure feels like every single pro eligible player is leaving and its kind of a bummer. I know we were anticipating it and we have exciting depth, but still, dang.
January 13th, 2024 at 9:16 PM ^
If he's announcing tomorrow, it's 90% he's going pro. Well we won a championship, and wish him the best if so. But if he goes to bed a draftee and wakes up a student again, sign me up.
January 13th, 2024 at 9:17 PM ^
I agree with Harbaugh that JJ is the greatest Michigan quarterback. No one else had this much talent AND success as a quarterback for Michigan. I think he would benefit immensely from another year at Michigan, as would his draft stock. But if he wants to go now, I don't blame him one bit. No matter his decision, I'll always root for him.
January 13th, 2024 at 9:18 PM ^
Sounds like JJ is going to enter the NFL Draft, if he does good for him.
Good luck JJ, thank you the Natty, 3 B1G championships and destroying 🅾️su 3 years in a row.
January 13th, 2024 at 9:18 PM ^
He did what he came here to do. Thank you!
January 13th, 2024 at 9:18 PM ^
Not saying he won't go. But for all those, it makes sense to go.
He would be the face of college football next season. QB of the National Title team. He would be getting the Dr. Pepper commercials all the Caleb Williams package from this year.
That signing bonus will be sure huge and cant just NIL it. But that bonus will be there next year.
Although he isn't injury prone, he seems susceptible to dings.. Which would be a good reason to go
January 13th, 2024 at 9:38 PM ^
Kiper has him in the 3rd round because we haven't seen JJ carry the offense himself repeatedly. I would prefer JJ go outside the top 20, gives him a chance to go to a good franchise. But no way do I think he waits until day 2.
January 13th, 2024 at 9:43 PM ^
I’m a little nervous on his behalf. I think he’ll be great in the pros, but he’s still clearly hurt. And 1st round QBs get extra chances and extra patience.
January 13th, 2024 at 10:03 PM ^
JJ's going to have to add significant muscle mass to increase his durability, prevent future injuries. And he's been unable to get there yet here, so having a "redshirt" rookie year in the NFL would be good for him.
January 13th, 2024 at 9:21 PM ^
Time to tamper with milroe.
January 13th, 2024 at 9:29 PM ^
Why would he come here? Southern players don’t transfer north and Alabama credits wouldn’t take at UM.
January 13th, 2024 at 9:46 PM ^
Better offense for him. He does not fit into what deboer wants to do. Doubt it happens. Worth a phone call.
January 13th, 2024 at 9:22 PM ^
Well I guess there are going to be a lot more Orji’s in the endzone