Tiki Barber had sharp words about Giants drafting J.J. McCarthy

Tiki Barber had sharp words about Giants drafting J.J. McCarthy

The New York Giants have been linked to plenty of quarterback prospects ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft, but former running back Tiki Barber had sharp words about Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy.

As the Giants have done their homework on the majority of the quarterback class, including assistant GM Brandon Brown being in attendance for McCarthy’s pro day.

But Barber isn’t buying McCarthy’s fast rise throughout the draft process.

For more Giants coverage, check out Kevin Hickey’s work on Sporting News.

Tiki Barber isn’t buying J.J. McCarthy to the Giants

“Not happening. I’m just saying. Not happening,” Barber said this week on WFAN. “I don’t want him. Not happening.

“I’m tired of hearing it. His film doesn’t say he’s a first-round quarterback. His film doesn’t say, ‘I need to get rid of all my assets and go draft this guy.’ Because a lot of what he does doesn’t translate.”

McCarthy has been a major topic of debate throughout the draft process. The success Michigan had running the ball behind a dominant offensive line meant they didn’t need to lean on the quarterback position as much as other schools.

He was a two-year starter at Michigan but comes into the league as a projection. Most analysts feel his draft profile is incomplete after averaging 22.1 pass attempts per game.

“The J.J. McCarthy thing, to me, is a smokescreen. He’s getting inflated because Jim Harbaugh won’t stop talking about him. Now all of a sudden, he’s a top-four quarterback? I don’t buy it.”

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In Barber’s eyes, McCarthy’s rise throughout the draft process has been a smokescreen. Barber especially had issues with the lack of tape showing McCarthy working through progressions.

“It didn’t highlight the things that you need do—second-, third-level reads and multiple combo routes that you have to get correct. He didn’t do any of that stuff,” Barber said. “They were run-based, and he thrived in it because (he was) good at doing what Jim Harbaugh wanted him to do.”

The draft is less than two weeks away, and the Giants hold the No. 6 overall pick. It’s a complete mystery what the Giants will do but if it was up to Barber, he’s not buying into McCarthy’s stock.