If you followed recruiting back in 2017, the name Dylan McCaffrey was everywhere. He was the four-star quarterback from Valor Christian. The 6-foot-5 frame. The legendary bloodline. He looked like the next great Michigan quarterback under Jim Harbaugh. But today, when people talk about the Dylan McCaffrey NFL draft prospects, the conversation is a lot quieter than it was five years ago.
Honestly, it’s a weird story. We’ve seen his brother Christian become an NFL MVP candidate. We saw his younger brother Luke successfully transition to wide receiver and make his own jump to the league. But for Dylan, the path wasn't a straight line. It was a winding road through Ann Arbor and Greeley, Colorado, that left a lot of fans asking: "Wait, is he even still playing?"
The Michigan Hype and the Joe Milton Battle
Dylan McCaffrey didn't just walk into Michigan as another recruit. He was the prize.
During his early years, you could see the flashes. He had this deceptive mobility. He wasn't just a statue in the pocket; he could tuck the ball and hurt defenses with his legs, much like the rest of his family. In 2018, he was actually pushing for playing time, but a broken collarbone against Penn State derailed that momentum.
Then came 2020. That was the year everything shifted.
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Basically, the quarterback room at Michigan became a pressure cooker. Joe Milton won the job, and Dylan decided to opt-out and eventually enter the transfer portal. It was a shocker at the time. You don't see many high-profile legacy QBs at Michigan just walk away right before a season, but Dylan was looking for a fresh start. He wanted to be the guy, not just a backup waiting for a chance that might never come.
The Northern Colorado Move: Playing for Dad
When Dylan chose Northern Colorado, the logic made sense. His father, Broncos legend Ed McCaffrey, was the head coach there. It was supposed to be a homecoming. A chance to put up massive numbers in the FCS and rebuild his Dylan McCaffrey NFL draft stock.
It didn't exactly go to script.
- The team struggled, finishing 3-8 in consecutive seasons.
- Dylan threw for over 3,000 yards during his tenure there.
- Injuries and a lack of supporting cast made it hard to look like an NFL-caliber starter.
While he was productive, the "NFL buzz" started to fade. Playing in the Big Sky Conference is tough, and if you aren't winning games or putting up video-game numbers like Carson Wentz did at North Dakota State, scouts tend to look elsewhere. He finished his college career with a Master’s in Business Administration, showing he was clearly planning for life after the whistle.
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Why the Dylan McCaffrey NFL Draft Hype Faded
Let's talk scouting. Why didn't he follow the same trajectory as Luke or Christian?
Scouts loved his size. You can't teach 6-foot-5. But the consistency just wasn't there. He had a 12-to-12 touchdown-to-interception ratio in 2022. That's a red flag for any NFL front office. To get drafted as a quarterback from an FCS school, you usually need to be dominant. Dylan was good, but he wasn't overwhelming.
Also, the "mobile QB" label changed. In 2017, being a 6-5 guy who could run a little was a massive plus. By 2024 and 2025, the NFL started looking for guys with elite arm talent or game-breaking speed. Dylan fell into that "tweener" category where he was athletic, but maybe not athletic enough to switch positions like Luke did.
Where is Dylan McCaffrey Now?
As of early 2026, Dylan has largely moved on from the professional gridiron pursuit. While his brothers are active in the league, Dylan has pivoted toward the family business. He’s been heavily involved in McCaffrey Family Foods and promoting their snack lines.
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It’s a reminder that a "bust" in the eyes of sports media isn't a failure in real life. Dylan McCaffrey was a highly decorated high school player, a Michigan letterman, and a starting college quarterback who earned two degrees. That’s a massive win, even if it doesn't end with a Saturday phone call from an NFL GM.
Key Takeaways for Draft Enthusiasts
If you’re still looking for a McCaffrey to track in the draft, the focus has entirely shifted to the next generation or potential late-bloomers in the coaching ranks. Dylan’s story serves as a case study for a few things:
- Transfer Timing: Moving to a lower-tier program doesn't always guarantee a draft boost.
- Health Matters: That 2018 collarbone injury at Michigan was a bigger "what if" than most realize.
- Bloodlines Aren't Everything: Even with the best DNA in football, the QB position is about timing and system fit as much as raw talent.
If you’re tracking current quarterback prospects for the upcoming cycle, look toward the Power 4 starters who have stayed in one system for more than two years. The "one-year wonder" transfer quarterback trend is starting to see diminishing returns in the middle rounds of the draft. For those following the McCaffrey family, keep an eye on Luke’s development in the pros—he’s currently the blueprint for how to pivot when the original plan at quarterback hits a wall.
Next Steps for Your Scouting Research:
Check the current 2026 NFL Draft big boards to see how the quarterback rankings have shifted after the bowl season. Focus on players with a high "Adjusted Completion Percentage" to find the next undervalued signal-caller.