Sean Payton ‘loves’ J.J. McCarthy and wants to bring the Michigan quarterback to the Broncos as he tries to find Russell Wilson’s replacement in Denver

Michigan Wolverines quarterback JJ McCarthy is reportedly turning heads in Denver, while Broncos coach Sean Payton is “in love” with him.

The Broncos are currently ranked No. 12 in the NFL Draft but are looking for a new quarterback, with Russell Wilson expected to leave.

Some analysts predict McCarthy will be selected in the top-10, which could mean the Broncos will have to trade up if they want to land him.

“There’s a little bit of steam starting to build up locally that Sean Payton likes JJ McCarthy,” said KFAN’s Paul Allen.

“He’s a quarterback from a pro-style offense with a strong arm… a fairly reliable person told me this weekend that Payton is quite enamored with JJ McCarthy.”

Broncos head coach Sean Payton is reportedly ‘quite enamored with JJ McCarthy’

Last season, McCarthy finished the year with 2,991 yards, 22 touchdowns and four interceptions during Michigan’s title-winning campaign under Jim Harbaugh.

Harbaugh, who has since left Michigan for the Los Angeles Chargers, recently praised his former quarterback when he resigned The Herd with Colin Cowherd.

‘Arm talent, athleticism, it factor, winning with numbing repetition. Don’t be surprised if he’s the No. 1 quarterback on the board,” he said. “That’s my prediction right now.

“When people get to know JJ and how he can throw the ball, how he spins it, his athleticism, his intelligence.

“Speaking of ‘it factor’, he’s got it. The competitiveness that he has, and they get around him, and they start to really dig in, and they start talking to him.”

Most draft experts currently consider McCarthy to be the fourth-best QB prospect in this year’s draft, behind USC’s Caleb Williams, LSU’s Jayden Daniels and UNC’s Drake Maye.

It is widely expected that Denver will lay the groundwork for quarterback Russell Wilson very soon

Wilson has had two rough seasons in Denver, and ESPN’s Jeff Legwold recently claimed that “almost no one in the league” expects the 35-year-old QB to return to the Broncos.

The nine-time Pro Bowler was benched for the final two games of the season due to what Broncos head coach Sean Payton called a “football decision.”

Although many speculated that this move would ensure that Wilson would not be injured due to the $37 million he would have been guaranteed for the 2025 season if he suffered an injury and did not undergo a physical exam on the fifth day of the new league year in March could get. .

Wilson himself claimed that the team gave him an ultimatum to adjust the guarantee or be stuck for the rest of the season shortly after earning a win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

The 2013 Super Bowl champion had signed a five-year, $242.6 million contract in 2022 and already had $39 million guaranteed in 2024.