Former Michigan head football coach Jim Harbaugh has never been shy when it comes to his feelings about quarterback JJ McCarthy. In fact, Harbaugh has repeatedly referred to McCarthy as the greatest quarterback to ever play at the University of Michigan.

Speaking with Colin Cowherd this week, Harbaugh went as far as to predict that McCarthy will be the No. 1 quarterback selected in the 2024 NFL Draft.

“Arm talent, athleticism, ‘it’ factor, winning with numbing repetition…don’t be surprised when he – if, when he’s the No. 1 quarterback off the board,” Harbaugh said. “That’s my prediction right now. When people get a load of JJ, 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. Yea, that’s an early prediction for the 2024 NFL Draft.”

Most Draft predictions currently have McCarthy as the fourth or fifth quarterback off the board, behind guys like Caleb Williams (USC), Drake Maye (UNC), and Jayden Daniels (LSU).

There aren’t any current projections – other than Harbaugh’s – that suggest McCarthy could be the No. 1 overall pick, but a lot can happen between now and Draft day. McCarthy will have the opportunity to make his case at the combine, and there’s no question that the gunslinger also has all of the qualities you look for in a guy at that position. As Harbaugh mentioned above, McCarthy has the arm talent, the athleticism, and the personality to be a franchise quarterback in the NFL for years to come.