JJ going pro .

Matthew Stafford is about to turn 36. I wouldn’t mind seeing JJ in Sean McVay’s offense.

Because of the love for Williams, Penix et al at the top of the draft, JJ just might find himself the heir apparent on a very good NFL team

I had the same hope for the last National Champion QB at Michigan, Brian Griese, when Denver drafted him. Granted he went in the 3rd round, but he seemed to be set up well with the defending chanmps: a great running game and a solid defense.

Griese didn't have a stellar NFL career, but he played for 11 seasons. Nothing to sneeze at, but I hope for more for JJ.

I think what’s lot of people keep forgetting with JJ is that he doesn’t even turn 21 until later this month!  Guys like Daniels and Penix were asked to do more…but they’re both 23!  Imagine JJ with two more years of development. 

The Lions need to spend all seven picks on D.

At the same time, UM appears to have a shortage of big-time receivers to throw to next year, so it's not like M will turn into a pass-happy offense to allow him to improve his passing skills.    It will likely be more of the same, relying on the run game mostly to move the ball with occasional throws to TEs and smaller receivers.

I actually do agree that JJ would benefit/improve with one more year in college.  I also agree that there are certain parts of his passing that are not quite there yet in terms of reads, progressions, timing.  Not saying he is bad at that stuff.  He actually is pretty good.  Just that...it can get to another level.   

But I still think that it is time for him to go because (1) he accomplished so much in college, (2) there is a lot of uncertainty on M's offensive roster for '24, (3) it does feel like he and a group of players set a goal and achieved that goal, and (4) even if he falls to the 2nd round, being a backup 'QB of the future' for an NFL team is life-changing money.  It might be better for him than being 'the guy' from day 1.  

In the end, even though he still has another level in terms of his own QB skill that he should work towards, he can do that as the backup in the NFL and there is nothing left for him to accomplish in college.  I guess you could say 'win a Heisman.'   But Michigan is not going let him throw 35 times every Saturday and does not have the WR corps for that anyway.  Business finished, as the hoodie said...

I mean I think the fact that at 21 he’s already this productive and efficient is a lot more exciting than Penix or Nix having stayed in college for so many years.  JJ still has two more years of development in front of him before he’s even at their age.

Also think the accuracy question marks are way overblown, he’s shown the ability to layer throws in between zone defenders, hit players on the run on crossing routes, basically make every throw and his completion percentage was very high.

Did he have missed?  Sure.  Every QB in the draft did!  Look at Penix in the championship game.  Very few college QB’s never miss a throw (Stroud had a few bad misses against Michigan last year for example).  

If you’re a nfl draft nerd, you know they don’t care about those times you overthrew a guy on 3rd down. They care about tools. And JJ has all the tools of a great qb. There’s a reason guys like Josh Allen and Will Levis went first round despite being mediocre college qbs with so so stats and no real big time wins. 
 

His stature isn’t all that different from Lamar Jackson’s combine numbers. I don’t think his size is going to be a big issue. He has the mobility and arm strength to make NFL throws.

It's fun to go back to Seth's Hello post:

He is the architect of his own class, a composite five-star quarterback, though he finished a super-high four-star to all the sites. He is the national recruit who bought in early, committing to Michigan the spring after the program’s dismantling at the hands of Ohio State’s crossing routes, and the *same day* John Beilein bolted for the NBA.

Turns out he wasn't optimistic enough:

Ceiling: Michigan beats Ohio State.

I think most QBs are off the board now. Sure to me seems like they’re going to run out with Orji or Davis next year? 

Go get the USC kid who just transferred to Boise St.

I have a better idea. We can run the old Michigan wishbone offense with Orji, Edwards, and Mullings. Play actions to the tight ends to keep the Ds honest. Boom. 

Not. Shoulda woulda coulda been part of the Rose Bowl and National Championship winning teams,  but instead he went to Iowa and got Iowa'd. Enjoy the decided schematic advantage that is the Ferentz offense next year Cade, instead of starting for the defending champions. Something tells me as long as a Harbaugh and Moore/Minter are here, we'll be ok.

Nope