Let’s Speculate on Harbaugh first draft pick

If QBs go 1,2,3 & 4 as some have projected my guess is he'll take best athlete available.  I know a lot of people think that's Harrison but knowing the type of offense Jim likes to run it wouldn't surprise me in the least if he takes Alt from Notre Dame.  That would give him a cornerstone tackle and we all know how much value he places on the offensive line.

If one of the QBs slip (and my guess is it would be Maye) then I'd bet anything he'll trade out of 5 to the highest bidder between NYG, LV, Minnesota or Denver.   

Trade Herbert to the Bears for a boatload of picks including both first rounders. Then trade the #1 overall for even more picks. Take JJ at 5 and go from there.

Marvin Harrison Jr. is a no-brainer.

The Harbaugh Answer is probably Brock Bowers.

I actually wonder if the Chargers would trade back in the first round and grab Malik Nabers, or even further back and grab Rome Odunze

I think they'll trade the 5th pick. They have a lot of holes to fill. I believe his first pick will be the grittiest offensive lineman available

As several have pointed out, the Chargers have multiple needs in positions with quite a bit of talent.  They also have salary cap issues.  The smart thing to do is trade down and turn one pick into multiple picks.

I don't think the NFL talent evaluation measures a crucial element for a JH regime:  does the person have the right mindset/fit?  We all know JH isn't for everyone, and he is looking for a particular type of player. 

In a league where following the conventional wisdom reigns supreme, I expect the media that parrots that approach to be surprised by what the Chargers do.

4generational QBs in a row

How is it that we are getting 3-4 generational players every year???

EDIT:  I switched the Princess Bride image as per feedback below.

I assume Bears Commies and Pats go QB. I think the Cards are going to take either MHJ or Nabers. So I would expect Harbaugh would either take the leftover there as Allen and Williams are out the door or slide down and take Bowers or OL. Who knows what Harbaugh is thinking though.

trade down

If Harrison is there at 5 and they don't want him for some reason, they have to trade back. Somebody will be dying to get Marv if he drops to that spot. They'd be throwing value away by drafting someone else and leaving him on the board. I could see something similar to last year when the Eagles traded a 4th just to bump up 1 spot with the Bears to guarantee they'd get Jalen Carter (bc the Bears knew they needed help elsewhere). The Chargers could drop back a few spots and still get the top OL or TE on their board.

I think MHJ will go in the top 4, so I don't think he's going to end up being an option.

If someone wants to trade up to take the 4th QB, Harbaugh probably snap accepts.  Move down

If he stays there, I think it'll be an OT, probably Alt.

i would take darker blue, but he is injured and skipped pro day.  can't use a first on him now. 

could take rgard, he's smart, but i'm afraid he'd want to fight the marsupial and get called for penalties.

SRJK is a big target, and i think he'd make a fine OT.  he's probably the first pick.

i would be willing to take a look at guys like mgrowold, robf, high beta, shadow, and some others, but not sure of their 40 speed and at least the first three have a lot of snaps/mileage, might not have the quick twitch we are looking for. they would be later round picks.  

Bowers seems like a good pick for Harbaugh. We recruited Bowers out of high school, so Harbaugh knows him a bit already.   That said I can totally see Harbaugh trading down and getting more of his type of guys.  

I'm curious on the gamesmanship of picks.  If neither Harbaugh or McDonald pick a Michigan guy will other teams pass on the Michigan player as well?   Will the Michigan guys get snapped up in the later rounds as bargains?   Or will the Michigan guys go higher because there are three coaches who are more familiar with them?

Up against the salary cap, and with a lot of needs, Harbaugh will probably trade back to get more talent on the roster. If he stands pat, then he'll take MHJ.

Joe Alt. He can get a tight end later as he may be the best (and most obsessed) with the position. 
 

I also see at least 1 Michigan player (maybe barner since he is a TE). Looking at the lives they have made already it’s clear to us crazy Michigan fans what they’re doing. 

if he stays at 5, I think he picks Joe Alt...MJH is a possibility too, but it depends on what is the bigger issue for the Chargers. OL or WR. Either would be great picks.

Bowers is good, but does he have value at #5? If the Chargers trade down they might be able to get him later.

I think the Chargers trading the pick is definitely in play though... accumulating more picks and more talent would be a smart thing to do.

He is going to trade back to later in the first three rounds for 15 later round draft picks.

Joey Bosa requests a trade.

Trade down, fill holes, get younger, get deeper.  

There's a lot of storylines here getting coverage, but one reason why I don't think Jim takes a WR is because of LAC's 23 first round pick Quentin Johnson. Yes, he underperformed last year, but basically everyone underperformed last year, and WR is one of the tougher positions to immediately impact as a rookie. Further, Jim got a whole month's worth of scouting on Johnson and his senior year at TCU (including seeing his playoff performance in person). If anyone sees/knows the potential of Johnson as a WR it's Harbaugh.

Also, this is widely considered to be the deepest OT draft in NFL history. 14-16 potential OTs taken in the first 3 rounds. Probably doesn't make a lot of sense to take a tackle early if there's historic depth at the position. 

As an aside, I keep seeing AJ Barner as a 7th round prediction. I could definitely see the best blocking TE in the draft being a great fit and value pick for Jim in the later rounds.

Probably Nabers.  I will be very surprised if Corum doesn’t end up on the chargers when it’s all said and done.  

I think the most likely scenario is a trade down.  The best player available at that point is likely a WR and Harbaugh has never featured a true WR1.  At 5 either one of the top 4 QBs or MHJ is available that teams would covet.  I think they trade with Minnesota for their pair of first round picks and they take Bowers at 11 and likely an OT later in the first.  If Corum is sitting around in round 3, I'd be shocked if he made it past the Chargers.

Joe Alt. Add a 10 year LT. Start with the line and work your way out.

You have to pick the best player that high. And it's not like Harbaugh doesn't like good receivers, he just doesn't like using that many of them at once. Plus he has Justin Herbert, who'll need someone to throw to. That said, I'd trade back if I could get two first rounders for it. Charges have lots of holes to fill

Trade down and take the best LT in the draft. Need to protect the franchise

If they don't trade back and QBs go 1-4, he takes Alt. 

If Alt is off the board at 5 and they don't trade back, I could see them going a lot of different directions but I'd be stunned if he went WR (the most overrated position IMO). My guess is he might take a DT or Edge. Dallas Turner maybe or the DT from Illinois. 

If they trade back, who knows... too many variables there to be mildly confident about anything, but if they picking after 10 and if Brock Bowers is out there I think he takes the TE. 

I’m trading the pick, no matter what. I think the potential draft capital gained with a trade if MHjr is available would outweigh what he could do for your team, especially with a deep OT and WR class. 

Guarantee he comes up late in round 3 to get ahead of his brother to draft Zinter.  When they analyze this draft, Zinter is going to be singled out as one of the best picks.  Once cleared and ready to go, drop him in at RG for a decade.  

I can tell you one thing: Brock Bowers is who James Joseph Harbaugh WANTS to pick

Has there been a comparable situation to Harbaugh and McCarthy in recent memory? Where a coach jumps from college to the NFL and a top prospect is someone he coached and developed? I can't think of any from Carroll, Saban, or even Jimmie Johnson and Bill Walsh.  

Oline. Need to be able to run the ball and blake corum 2nd round once they trade down and have extra pick. 

Add the Lions to the mix for many of the UM team captains. They have had good luck with this culture. Other than the Harbaugh tree other teams have noticed.

Bowers, a tackle and Blake and Zinter in play as well as Mike. I would be surprised if Mike isn't valued more highly than the so called mock experts predictions given playmaking on film against the finest competition (although UM didn't play anybody until Alabama).