The latest 2024 NFL mock draft from USA Today has J.J. McCarthy taken by the Broncos

Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy scrambles against during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis) ORG XMIT: otkag109

The buzz over J.J. McCarthy before the 2024 NFL combine continues to be loud.

Is the Michigan QB a first-rounder? He wasn’t in our latest mock from Christian D’Andrea, but we’ve seen all kinds of mocks that have the national title winner taken in the first — maybe there’s a QB-desperate team that would move up with a trade?

Sitting at No. 12 in the official NFL draft order are the Denver Broncos, who could use a QB now that it feels like Russell Wilson is on the way out. In the latest mock from USA TODAY Sports, Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz goes to Denver.

Here’s his take:

Will any college passer truly satisfy Sean Payton? Spoiled by his longtime partnership with Drew Brees – and perhaps still smarting from the Saints narrowly missing out on Patrick Mahomes – the Broncos coach has lofty standards for his signal-callers. But like most of his peers, he might not be able to ride things out until the perfect solution comes along. McCarthy is likely far more of a project than Payton would prefer, but his efficiency in both embracing checkdowns and operating out of structure should help buy him time in his development.

Make sure to check out Christian D’Andrea’s latest NFL mock draft.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: The latest 2024 NFL mock draft from USA Today has J.J. McCarthy taken by the Broncos