Who would Harbaugh Draft from Michigan in 2024?
Considering Chargers current roster and the players from Michigan who have entered the NFL draft, who do you think Harbaugh would draft? None? One impact player? Or multiple?
Some needs on the Chargers roster (based on sites) would include cornerbacks, tight ends, running backs, offensive tackles, linebackers, and defensive ends.
January 25th, 2024 at 3:13 PM ^
Don't let facts get in the way of a zany idea.
And Stafford had been with DET for 11 seasons before being traded without that significant cap hit, unlike Herbert now. Only makes sense if... well, it really doesn't make any sense.
January 25th, 2024 at 6:02 PM ^
I can promise you that the Chargers did not hire Jim Harbaugh as the first step in a rebuild. They hired him because they believe he can turn the team with Herbert into a winner. And that shared belief is a major reason Jim pursued that job.
January 25th, 2024 at 6:25 PM ^
Do you understand what you just said
Herbert's contract in a trade bankrupts the Chargers, but go with your Lion analogy.
January 25th, 2024 at 2:21 PM ^
I was thinking about this this morning actually. He has Herbert, but Herbert has a ridiculous contract and, while ultra talented, hasn't won $hit and may be more hype than substance. And, as they commonly say in the NFL, there is nothing better to have than a quality QB on a rookie deal. With that in mind, my dream scenario:
- Trade Herbert for a bunch of draft capital
- Use the #5 pick to grab MHj, Nabors or Odunze
- Use a second 1st round pick acquired via maneuvering to draft JJ
- Profit
In my head this all makes sense.
January 25th, 2024 at 2:25 PM ^
Between Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Josh Palmer, and last year's bust of Quentin Johnson, the Chargers are fine at WR. They have much bigger needs elsewhere, probably going OL in the first round.
January 25th, 2024 at 2:28 PM ^
OL would be fine too. But Allen is going to be 32 when the season starts, Williams is always hurt, Palmer is nothing special and, as you say, QJ sure looks like a bust.
January 25th, 2024 at 2:33 PM ^
Injury prone, 32 year old Keenan Allen is done.
31 year old Mike Williams is 99.9% is gone.
Quinton Johnson is trending to be a bust but still young.
So their WR "core" is essentially Quinton Johnson and Josh Palmer.
Oooooof
January 25th, 2024 at 3:26 PM ^
And they have ~$65MM in cap space tied up between just Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, both of whom are UFAs the following year.
If Jim likes what he sees in his meetings with MHjr that's the pick. Unless he straight up looooves the ND OT.
If he could pull off a Jimmy Johnson-style trade down for draft capital, I'm sure he would.
January 25th, 2024 at 3:42 PM ^
.05% chance Marvin is available at 5 when LAC picks.
January 25th, 2024 at 3:51 PM ^
Both Allen and Mike Williams are going to be north of 30 years old when the season starts, and each are on the last year of their contract.
January 26th, 2024 at 8:45 AM ^
That's not happening. Herbert contract would incur $108 million of dead cap. Herbert is a top 5 QB and has kept the roster together with his play. LAC cratered once he got into IR. Having a franchise QB is step 1 towards rebuild and they just need to build good players around him.
January 25th, 2024 at 2:21 PM ^
san diego has 5th pick so harbaugh gonna take one of these guys:
harrison wr osu
alt OT notre dame
turner DE alabama
fashanu OT penn state
think he will take sainristl, zinter, colson, corum, keegan, barnhart, jones if they are comparable and available in later rounds
January 25th, 2024 at 2:29 PM ^
If MHJ is there I don't see how you pass on him.
Fashanu is so overrated it's not even funny. I don't get the hype over him at all.
January 25th, 2024 at 2:40 PM ^
Harbaugh will not build the future of his team on skill players.
Expect a bunch of OL and DL in his first draft there, or at least trading for established OL and DL.
They have their QB - Herbert is a top 5 NFL talent with protection and a decent running game.
Harbaugh will do what he has done everywhere - build from the inside-out, get the team good by being great in the trenches, not putting too much pressure on his QB to be a world beater, and then hoping to get them over the top with a few elite skill position players.
That's the formula that has worked for him in the past.
January 25th, 2024 at 2:56 PM ^
Correct. It's the winning formula. I expect them to take the best OL at #5.
January 25th, 2024 at 3:39 PM ^
Expect a bunch of OL and DL in his first draft there, or at least trading for established OL and DL.
Fair enough.
January 25th, 2024 at 2:36 PM ^
Brock Bowers should definitely be on that list as an option. Shoot, I'd call him the favorite.
January 25th, 2024 at 4:57 PM ^
1000% agree! Think TE loving Harbaugh is going to pass on a "generational" talent at his favorite position. Zinter goes off the board with the 2nd pick and will be a 10 year starter in LA. Going to love him some In n Out!
January 25th, 2024 at 3:20 PM ^
San Diego?
(Yes, I'm correcting this every time I see it.)
January 25th, 2024 at 3:42 PM ^
I think Jim taking the Chargers job only really makes sense if they were still in San Diego.
January 25th, 2024 at 3:44 PM ^
Wonder who the Oakland Raiders will draft this year...
January 26th, 2024 at 8:46 AM ^
Turner isn't going to be a top 5 pick. It's either Bowers or Alt or Mims. They have Slater, but he's not a typical Harbaugh OT so we'll see how he views him. Since good OL is hard to find, he'll have to keep him at LT. Alt or Mims can play RT so that's an option there.
January 25th, 2024 at 2:21 PM ^
What if the Chargers traded Justin Herbert for a 1st Round pick and he drafts JJ with one of the two 1st round picks he has? Could grab other needs like Barner or Zinter as well. Not sure how many late round picks they have. I could see this working out ina similar fashion to what the Lions did with Stafford.
January 25th, 2024 at 3:46 PM ^
The Chargers would take a massive cap hit for trading Herbert. The Lions didn't.
January 25th, 2024 at 3:46 PM ^
Herbert is a proven NFL star and probably the main reason Harbaugh went to the Chargers. Them not winning recently is not on him. He's the cornerstone and is not getting moved. If Harbaugh wanted to draft JJ he should have taken the Falcons job
January 25th, 2024 at 2:26 PM ^
Given the chance, he would almost certainly take JJ, right? Deal Herbert away for more picks to land Zinter, Keagan, Corum and Wilson too.
January 25th, 2024 at 2:27 PM ^
So basically the Chargers need everything but a QB.
Ooof.
January 25th, 2024 at 2:33 PM ^
And dump 60+ million in salaries !!
January 25th, 2024 at 2:29 PM ^
He'll trade their first rd pick for Jake Moody. That'll be his way of walking into town and slapping somebody like Wyatt Earp.
January 25th, 2024 at 2:31 PM ^
I want them to move up and draft MHJ ... The Ohio state fans will melt down every time he calls him a stalwart
January 25th, 2024 at 2:32 PM ^
They need a guard . Keegan or zinter
January 25th, 2024 at 2:46 PM ^
Silly question. He'll draft whomever Dean Spanos tells him to draft.
January 25th, 2024 at 3:21 PM ^
Is Harbaugh just going to be their head coach - or - GM and head coach?
January 25th, 2024 at 2:47 PM ^
If you play fantasy football, you're going to want whoever ends up starting at running back for the Chargers. Harbaugh loves to impose will and cram it down your throat when inside the 5 yd line. Idk if it will end up being Ekeler.
January 25th, 2024 at 2:49 PM ^
Perhaps I should let him know I'm not available. Still saving my college eligibility. (It remains good for decades, right?)
January 25th, 2024 at 3:09 PM ^
Is Harbs picking the GM?
If so Chargers will be going total opposite world from what they've always done. Maybe it's not the worst idea since none of the others have ever worked.
Hollywood will have to make another movie to follow up Draft Day & Moneyball. Where the HC & GM wanted to stab each other in the throat. Harbs is gonna be in the right town for it.
January 25th, 2024 at 3:23 PM ^
It could be a movie with a sequel or two, or three...
Start with San Francisco and Balke. Move to LA. And, if there's something "in between" - perhaps there's something about Ann Arbor and Warde.
January 25th, 2024 at 3:26 PM ^
An easier question might be - which Michigan player wouldn't he draft?
I could see players who enter the draft - but, don't actually get drafted - becoming UDFA's for LA - and, at a minimum - part of the practice squad.
January 25th, 2024 at 3:33 PM ^
According to this fantastic post by mgoDAB from 2015 San Fransisco didn't draft one player or have one UDFA from Stanford that Harbaugh coached.
January 25th, 2024 at 3:35 PM ^
Zak Zinter
January 25th, 2024 at 3:37 PM ^
Harbaugh runs the power run game. Not sure you are going to pull that off with the Chargers, so I would focus on defense. Build a solid D.
January 25th, 2024 at 3:44 PM ^
Kris Jenkins
January 25th, 2024 at 3:50 PM ^
The homerism with regards to the NFL on this board is staggering. Herbert is a guy any NFL team would want to build around, he's not getting moved. JJ may be good in the NFL or not - I really hope he's great but it would be a very bad choice for Harbaugh to chose JJ over Herbert right now and it will not happen.
January 25th, 2024 at 3:58 PM ^
Agreed.
I don't think JJ is ready to be a starting QB in the NFL. He would very much benefit from a situation like Mahomes, Rodgers, Brady, and Love had where he can sit for 1-3 years behind an established starter and learn the speed of the NFL game. If he comes in and starts year one in the wrong situation, it could easily turn into a ruined career.
January 25th, 2024 at 4:05 PM ^
I've been trying to think of the best spots for McCarthy. Seattle has been suggested (sitting behind Geno or Lock). Some others I thought of: New Orleans (sit behind Derek Carr), Jets (sits behind Aaron for 1-2 years, might as well learn from one of the best), Denver (especially if they were to retain RWilson), Minnesota (especially if they retain Koupons for another year).
Of course, from a personal standpoint, I'd love to see the Pats take MHJ in round 1 and JJ in round 2 but just because I want JJ on my favorite team.
January 25th, 2024 at 4:07 PM ^
In related news, I saw a mock draft today that projects Zak Zinter going to the Lions in the 3rd at #93.
As both a Wolverine and a Lions fan: Yes, please.
January 25th, 2024 at 4:23 PM ^
No one from special teams. They aren't suitable for California weather.
January 25th, 2024 at 4:38 PM ^
Defense. Offensive line. Blake. Roman. Basically everyone except JJ.
January 25th, 2024 at 4:42 PM ^
UESWolverine's unborn child, obviously.