Chargers' Jim Harbaugh intrigued to have No. 5 overall selection in QB-heavy draft: 'It's an exciting pick'

In Jim Harbaugh's mind, no one has it better than the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Chargers pick fifth overall, but it feels like the catbird's seat to Harbaugh in his first draft back in the league in a decade. 

"There's talk of four quarterbacks going in the first four picks. Boy, if that happens, that pick really becomes like the No. 1 pick in the draft," Harbaugh told reporters at the Annual League Meeting. "If four quarterbacks go in the first four picks, that's not like the fifth pick anymore. That's like the No. 1 pick of the draft for teams that have a great quarterback already."

Having Justin Herbert allows the Chargers rare flexibility; able to select the top non-QB if Harbaugh's scenario plays out as he said. But even if, say, three quarterbacks are picked in the first four selections, Harbaugh sees how the possibilities might lay out favorably for his new team -- possibly with a trade down.

"I mean, maybe four quarterbacks don't go in a row -- it's unprecedented that's ever happened," he said. "But maybe there's still another quarterback there when the fifth pick comes around and somebody wants to... again, that'd be like the No. 1 pick. 

"...It's an exciting pick."

There's a certain irony unfolding here, which is that in a perfect world, Harbaugh's quarterback at Michigan could end up dictating what happens with the coach's new team. J.J. McCarthy led the Wolverines to Harbaugh's first national title last season, later declaring early for the draft, and Harbaugh has continued to heap praise on his former QB.

Harbaugh previously has said he thinks McCarthy is the best quarterback in Michigan history. That, of course, includes Tom Brady -- and Harbaugh himself. And now the coach is channeling the