When the Minnesota Vikings made it clear that they were parting ways with six-year starter Kirk Cousins following the 2023 season, it was evident that they'd be going after a quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft, ultimately trading up to select J.J. McCarthy at No. 10 overall.
McCarthy had just recently helped Michigan win its first national title since 1997 by having the best year of his career with the Wolverines, completing a Big Ten-best 72.3 percent of his passes for 2,991 yards with 22 touchdowns against just four interceptions, adding another 202 yards and three scores on the ground.