# Ryan Wilson: Recalling his pre-draft evaluation, Wilson notes he had ranked J.J. McCarthy as the fifth quarterback in the 2024 class and given him a second-round grade rather than a first-round one, citing the gap between Michigan's system and NFL demands.

**Claimed:** Sep 28, 2026
**Pundit:** Ryan Wilson — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/ryan-wilson
**Outlet:** CBS Sports — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/cbs-sports
**How it reached us:** published in writing
**Original:** https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/j-j-mccarthy-vikings-giants-trade-whats-next-for-former-top-10-qb/

2 checkable claims — 1 mock draft pick and 1 position order call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.

All 2 have settled, averaging 68.5 out of 100, against 47.4 for a naive guess at the same calls.

> McCarthy was my QB5 with a second-round grade because the traits were there, but there was still a considerable gap between what Michigan asked of him and what an NFL team would require of him as the face of the franchise.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **J.J. McCarthy to be 5th quarterback off the board**
  - Kind: Position Order Calls · About: J.J. McCarthy
  - Verdict: scored 100 out of 100, against 44.76 for a naive guess
- **J.J. McCarthy to be picked “second-round grade” (picks 33–64)**
  - Kind: Mock Draft Picks · About: J.J. McCarthy
  - Verdict: scored 36.92 out of 100, against 50 for a naive guess

## Who this take is about

- J.J. McCarthy — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/j-j-mccarthy

## What others said about the same people

- Adam Carlson on J.J. McCarthy: Carlson names three Vikings he expects could be traded before the end of September: quarterback J.J. McCarthy, wide receiver Jordan Addison and linebacker Ivan Pace. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/65e3f9cf-c441-42a2-baaf-7cd3dbebafad (scored 100)
- Greg Auman on J.J. McCarthy: Auman argues no quarterback is likely to replicate Sam Darnold's turnaround this season, but names five candidates. He expects Miami to hold a very high pick in the 2027 draft, and thinks J.J. McCarthy will eventually be traded for a late-round pick or cut by the Vikings. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/9b8eb78e-ddfa-4274-ac8f-17b069e6b87f (scored 100)
- Bucky Brooks on J.J. McCarthy: Brooks predicted J.J. McCarthy won't be on the Vikings' roster (traded or released), said Kyler Murray wins the Vikings' QB competition, made a series of 2025 award picks, made 2026 Heisman/draft projections including Arch Manning as the front-runner for the No. 1 overall pick, and said none of Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen or Joe Burrow win a championship this season. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/10c3797b-f9e0-41ca-a2a3-5d765a242a79 (scored 100)
- Bryan DeArdo on J.J. McCarthy: Named several players as candidates to be traded before Sunday's cut deadline, including Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy, Cardinals edge Josh Sweat and Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/1efd361e-309f-48ba-ab0a-28d77ff76942 (scored 100)
- Bryan DeArdo on J.J. McCarthy: A CBS Sports piece lists veterans it expects could be traded before the 53-man roster deadline, including quarterbacks Anthony Richardson (with Buffalo floated as a landing spot), J.J. McCarthy and Will Howard, plus Jerry Jeudy, Joey Porter Jr., Tyrone Tracy Jr., Kayvon Thibodeaux, Josh Sweat, Kristian Fulton and Marist Liufau. It also says Mason Rudolph's and Drew Allar's roster spots in Pittsburgh are secure. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/bd269550-714b-4a52-b6e1-2ba079b58fef (scored 100)
- Matthew Coller on J.J. McCarthy: Coller argues J.J. McCarthy's development is far behind schedule and that he will likely end up needing a fresh start with another team rather than developing into the Vikings' answer at quarterback. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/9ffe221e-9c07-4fd5-9e59-a767ffbc691c (scored 100)

## More position order calls

The same kind of call, about other players and teams.

- Nick Shook on Olaivavega Ioane: Shook walks through his full first-round mock draft, assigning a prospect to every pick from No. 1 to No. 32, headlined by Fernando Mendoza to the Raiders, David Bailey to the Jets and Jeremiah Love to the Cardinals in the top three. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7d4209aa-2e2d-47a2-b6e5-791d16d209cb (scored 35.36)
- Rhett Lewis on Tyler Shough: Lewis names Louisville's Tyler Shough as the new QB3 of the class — the third quarterback off the board — and views Milroe as a second-round selection. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d116ab63-5271-4b18-838b-29bb93d58530 (scored 100)
- Nick Wright on Carnell Tate: Nick Wright laid out his full mock draft 3.0 for the 2026 NFL Draft, pick by pick through the first round, and also predicted AJ Brown would finish top five in the NFL in receiving yards with the Patriots. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/77faa345-d736-4a90-8185-b1b92c789e5a (scored 100)
- Todd McShay on K.C. Concepcion: McShay's mock draft 4.0 has Fernando Mendoza and David Bailey going 1-2 to the Raiders and Jets, the Saints trading up to No. 3 for Arvell Reese, the Titans taking Jeremiah Love at 4, the Giants taking Francis Mauigoa at 5 (though he'd now switch to Sonny Styles), the Cowboys trading up to 6, the Jets trading up to 7 for Carnell Tate, and Arizona trading up to 30 for Ty Simpson. He also predicts seven offensive tackles go in the first round and that Love, Styles, Downs and Reese all go in the top seven. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/cd11036a-b55c-47a9-92e8-5b088260ca47 (scored 100)
- Keith Sanchez on Jordyn Tyson: As relayed by Harrison, Sanchez's latest mock draft has Carnell Tate going to Washington, Jordan Tyson as the first receiver off the board at No. 5 to the Giants, Makai Lemmon at 11 and Chris Brasel at 30 to Miami, Sonny Styles at No. 8 to New Orleans, and Caleb Downs at No. 13 to the Rams. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/226ec0b5-6535-45ba-8b77-609e3e51ca6e (scored 70.71)
- Field Yates on Jordyn Tyson: As relayed by Rich Eisen, Yates' two-round mock draft has Fernando Mendoza first overall, followed by three edge/defenders, Caleb Downs fifth, and a series of other named picks including Eli Stowers to Tampa Bay at 46. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7eaa4c0b-96d6-4cb2-bb55-3307b797fb9b (scored 100)

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Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages.

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