J.J. McCarthy Has Giants VP 'In Awe' After Concerns About 'Maturity Level' Before NFL Draft 2024

J.J. McCarthy looks "completely different" to New York Giants senior vice president of player personnel Chris Mara than he did when the NFC East team decided not to select him with the No. 6 overall pick of the 2024 NFL draft.

"We had him rated very high from a skill set," Mara told Steve Serby of the New York Post when discussing the quarterback the Giants traded for this season. "… We weren't quite sure about the maturity level, but we loved his skill set. He showed the ability to win, the ability to lead. Seeing him three years later, this is a completely different-looking person for me."

Mara continued and said McCarthy looks different "on the field and off the field. He's a terrific guy, he's matured, he's married now, has a kid. I'm in awe when I watch him in practice. He's got a much better arm than I thought he ever had. He moves around great. Listen, the arrow's up on him, too."

The Giants didn't draft McCarthy, but they used that No. 6 pick on a game-changer in wide receiver Malik Nabers. They also landed a potential franchise quarterback in the next draft when they selected Jaxson Dart in the first round in 2025.

However, Dart's injury this season forced the team into scramble mode, and they ended up trading for McCarthy after the Michigan product never completely found his footing on the Minnesota Vikings and found himself behind Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz on the depth chart.

McCarthy didn't live up to expectations in Minnesota as the No. 10 overall pick of that 2024 draft, but the Giants trade has given him a new opportunity and a change of scenery.

He threw for 243 yards in one quarter of action against the New Orleans Saints to earn a start against the Houston Texans. He then threw for 252 yards in an overtime victory over the Texans and is the surefire starter heading into Sunday's contest against the Philadelphia Eagles.

In something of an ironic twist, McCarthy's No. 1 receiver now is the player the Giants took over him in the 2024 draft. Nabers exploded for 111 receiving yards in the win over the Texans, which was his fourth straight game over the century mark.

While Dart will surely battle to get his job back when he is healthy next season, the Giants are relying on two top-10 picks of the 2024 draft to elevate their aerial attack for the immediate future.

And they are in first place in the NFC East with plenty of momentum heading into Sunday's contest.