Next Tom Brady? Jim Harbaugh Hints Patriots Should Draft Michigan QB

The New England Patriots know a thing or two about successful Michigan aerial alumni in the NFL. Is J.J. McCarthy the next Tom Brady?

The New England Patriots hailed a certain victor for nearly two decades. Are they ready to regale another?

Former University of Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh appears to hope so: now at the helm of the Los Angeles Chargers, Harbaugh hardly needs to worry about the team's passing situation thanks to the presence of Justin Herbert, so he's instead campaigning for the early drafters to bring in his former collegiate protege J.J. McCarthy. 

During an appearance on Fox Sports' "The Herd," the hardly-biased Harbaugh predicted that McCarthy would be the first passer off the board come April's NFL Draft.

Joe Rondone, USA TODAY SPORTS

"When people get a load of J.J. and how he could throw the ball, how he spins it, his athleticism, his intelligence., talk about it factor, he’s got it," Harbaugh told host Colin Cowherd. "The competitiveness that he has, and they get around him, they really start digging in, and they start talking to him, yeah, that’s an early prediction for the 2024 NFL Draft.”

From a Foxborough lens, Harbaugh's prediction could be viewed as a call for history to repeat itself: the Patriots, of course, were no doubt fans of what an Ann Arbor education did for Tom Brady, who established himself as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, quarterbacks in NFL history over 19 seasons of offensive oversight. 

Despite a strong ending to his collegiate career, which wrapped up with a win over Washington in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game (as well as the Griese-Brees Quarterback of the Year title in the Big Ten), McCarthy will likely need an immaculate showing at the upcoming NFL Scouting Combine to move to the top of the draft board. Most mocks have him destined for first round honors but far behind the arrivals of names like Caleb Williams (USC), Drake Maye (North Carolina), and Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels (LSU). 

Each of the top three choosers at this spring's draft has questions at the quarterback spot. New England's aerial woes in the third slot hardly require further explanation while Chicago and Washington could choose to move on from their respective incumbents Justin Fields and Sam Howell.

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Perhaps Harbaugh is looking to break a lasting curse that bears his name: no Michigan quarterback has been chosen in the opening round of the draft since he himself went to Chicago with the 26th overall pick in the 1987 selections.