Chargers' Jim Harbaugh: 'Don't Be Surprised' If J.J. Mccarthy Is 2024 NFL Draft QB1

New Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh made a bold prediction regarding where J.J. McCarthy, his former quarterback at Michigan, will land in the 2024 NFL draft.

Speaking Friday during an appearance on The Herd with Colin Cowherd, the former Wolverines head coach said he believes McCarthy will be the first quarterback taken in this year's draft, topping the likes of USC's Caleb Williams, UNC's Drake Maye and LSU's Jayden Daniels.

"Don't be surprised if and when he's the number one quarterback off the board," Harbaugh said. "That's my prediction right now.

"When people get a load of J.J., and how he can throw the ball, how he spins it, his athleticism, his intelligence. Talk about 'it' factor. He's got it. The competitiveness that he has. And they get around him, and they really start digging in, and they start talking to him...That's an early prediction for the 2024 NFL Draft."

Harbaugh coached McCarthy over the last three seasons at Michigan, and the duo put together a stellar 2023 campaign capped off by a College Football Playoff national title.

McCarthy put together the best season of his collegiate career in 2023, completing 72.3 percent of his passes for 2,991 yards and 22 touchdowns against four interceptions in 15 games, in addition to rushing for 202 yards and three scores.

However, he still faces an uphill battle to be the first quarterback off the board this spring.

Williams is widely expected to be selected by the Chicago Bears with the No. 1 overall pick, and ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. has Daniels going No. 2 to the Washington Commanders and Maye No. 3 to the New England Patriots in his mock draft.

McCarthy is the fourth quarterback off the board at No. 16 to the Seattle Seahawks in Kiper's mock draft.

Bleacher Report NFL Scout Derrik Klassen wrote of McCarthy:

"McCarthy fits best in a Shanahan-style system that simplifies things pre-snap and leans into throws over the middle of the field with the help of play action. He has the requisite arm talent and pocket toughness to function in that system. Even still, McCarthy will take time to develop his ability to progress from the pocket and, hopefully, add weight and strength."

A lot can change before the draft, especially with the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine serving as major checkpoints, but it's still hard to envision McCarthy leapfrogging any of the aforementioned quarterbacks.