McCown had an impressive performance at the NFL Combine, which saw him post a 40-yard dash in the mid-4-second range, a 10-foot long jump, and a ​38 ¹⁄₂-inch vertical jump.
One scout who attended the Combine said "He could be the third quarterback taken or the eighth quarterback."
McCown was rated the sixth best quarterback in the 2002 NFL Draft by NFLDraftScout.com.
He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft, with the 81st overall pick, and was the fourth quarterback selected.
Dave McGinnis, the head coach of the Cardinals when McCown was drafted, later stated that McCown "had all the background essentials you really liked.
And he's a fabulous athlete.
If you were going to start a pickup basketball game in the building, he'd be one of your first choices."
McCown played for the Cardinals from 2002 to 2005.

Entering his rookie season, McCown became the team's second-string quarterback after former Cardinals backup Chris Greisen was released in August.
McCown made his NFL debut on December 1 against the Kansas City Chiefs, relieving starter Jake Plummer late in the third quarter of an eventual 49–0 loss.
McCown played in two games in 2002, completing 7-of-18 passes for 66 yards with two interceptions.
He also rushed once for 20 yards.

In 2003, McCown was the backup to Jeff Blake for the first 13 games of the season.
On September 14 against the Seattle Seahawks, McCown completed 18 of 32 passes for 150 yards with two interceptions after relieving the injured Blake late in the first quarter of an eventual 38–0 loss.
Prior to the game against the San Francisco 49ers on December 7, it was reported that the Cardinals would play both starter Blake and McCown in the game.
Blake played the first half, completing 8 of 20 passes for 59 yards and one interception.
McCown then played the second half, completing 11 of 20 passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns as the Cardinals lost by a score of 50–14.
McCown was then promoted to starter and started the final three games of the season.
Head coach Dave McGinnis stated that "Josh is the right decision professionally for our organization," and that "Some quality time is what he needs against good teams ... and it's important to find out what we have there."
In the final game of the season on December 28 against the Minnesota Vikings, McCown threw a game-winning 28-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Nate Poole as time expired to beat the Vikings by a score of 18–17.
The Vikings would have made the playoffs if they had won the game but the Green Bay Packers made the playoffs in their place.
The Packers also invited McCown and Poole to attend their first playoff game.
While McCown declined the invitation due to the birth of his third child, Poole attended the game and was presented with a key to the city.
McCown played in eight games, with three starts, in 2003 and completed 95 of 166 passes for 1,018 yards and 5 touchdowns with 6 interceptions.
He also rushed for a career-high 158 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries.

On February 4, 2004, new head coach Dennis Green named McCown the team's starter for the 2004 season.
McCown started the first nine games of the season for the Cardinals, leading the team to a 4–5 record.
Against the Atlanta Falcons on September 26, he completed 20 of 26 passes for a then career-high completion percentage of 76.9 percent.
However, he also lost three fumbles and was benched in favor of Shaun King in the fourth quarter as the Cardinals lost by a score of 6–3.
McCown threw for a then career-high three touchdowns on October 10 against the San Francisco 49ers.
During McCown's ninth consecutive start on November 14 against the New York Giants, McCown completed 12 of 24 passes for only 90 yards even though the Cardinals won the game by a score of 17–14.
McCown was then benched, with King replacing him as the team's starting quarterback.
King then started the next two games for the Cardinals while McCown was second-string.
After King's two starts, he was benched in favor of John Navarre.
Navarre then started one game for the team
McCown had an impressive performance at the NFL Combine, which saw him post a 40-yard dash in the mid-4-second range, a 10-foot long jump, and a ​38 ¹⁄₂-inch vertical jump. One scout who attended the Combine said "He could be the third quarterback taken or the eighth quarterback." McCown was rated the sixth best quarterback in the 2002 NFL Draft by NFLDraftScout.com. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft, with the 81st overall pick, and was the fourth quarterback selected. Dave McGinnis, the head coach of the Cardinals when McCown was drafted, later stated that McCown "had all the background essentials you really liked. And he's a fabulous athlete. If you were going to start a pickup basketball game in the building, he'd be one of your first choices." McCown played for the Cardinals from 2002 to 2005.
Entering his rookie season, McCown became the team's second-string quarterback after former Cardinals backup Chris Greisen was released in August. McCown made his NFL debut on December 1 against the Kansas City Chiefs, relieving starter Jake Plummer late in the third quarter of an eventual 49–0 loss. McCown played in two games in 2002, completing 7-of-18 passes for 66 yards with two interceptions. He also rushed once for 20 yards.
In 2003, McCown was the backup to Jeff Blake for the first 13 games of the season. On September 14 against the Seattle Seahawks, McCown completed 18 of 32 passes for 150 yards with two interceptions after relieving the injured Blake late in the first quarter of an eventual 38–0 loss. Prior to the game against the San Francisco 49ers on December 7, it was reported that the Cardinals would play both starter Blake and McCown in the game. Blake played the first half, completing 8 of 20 passes for 59 yards and one interception. McCown then played the second half, completing 11 of 20 passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns as the Cardinals lost by a score of 50–14. McCown was then promoted to starter and started the final three games of the season. Head coach Dave McGinnis stated that "Josh is the right decision professionally for our organization," and that "Some quality time is what he needs against good teams ... and it's important to find out what we have there." In the final game of the season on December 28 against the Minnesota Vikings, McCown threw a game-winning 28-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Nate Poole as time expired to beat the Vikings by a score of 18–17. The Vikings would have made the playoffs if they had won the game but the Green Bay Packers made the playoffs in their place. The Packers also invited McCown and Poole to attend their first playoff game. While McCown declined the invitation due to the birth of his third child, Poole attended the game and was presented with a key to the city. McCown played in eight games, with three starts, in 2003 and completed 95 of 166 passes for 1,018 yards and 5 touchdowns with 6 interceptions. He also rushed for a career-high 158 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries.
On February 4, 2004, new head coach Dennis Green named McCown the team's starter for the 2004 season. McCown started the first nine games of the season for the Cardinals, leading the team to a 4–5 record. Against the Atlanta Falcons on September 26, he completed 20 of 26 passes for a then career-high completion percentage of 76.9 percent. However, he also lost three fumbles and was benched in favor of Shaun King in the fourth quarter as the Cardinals lost by a score of 6–3. McCown threw for a then career-high three touchdowns on October 10 against the San Francisco 49ers. During McCown's ninth consecutive start on November 14 against the New York Giants, McCown completed 12 of 24 passes for only 90 yards even though the Cardinals won the game by a score of 17–14. McCown was then benched, with King replacing him as the team's starting quarterback. King then started the next two games for the Cardinals while McCown was second-string. After King's two starts, he was benched in favor of John Navarre. Navarre then started one game for the team
Josh McCown