The Los Angeles Chargers have officially announced Jim Harbaugh as their next head coach. After months of speculation for the Chargers and years of rumors around Harbaugh, the former Michigan Wolverines leader is now back in the NFL.
However, Harbaugh takes on a job that leaves a lot of work ahead of him. With an aging roster and a difficult cap situation, the 2024 NFL Draft will be more important than ever for Harbaugh to put his imprint on this team.
2024 NFL Draft Prospects Jim Harbaugh Could Target
One thing is certain: Harbaugh will have his hands full addressing problems on the Chargers’ roster. Over the Cap projects the Chargers to be over the salary cap by $45.8 million in 2024.
With large contracts given to older players who have dwindling production or injury issues, the aim has to be to get younger and more explosive in all facets of the game.
Many positions will need to be addressed. Here are some potential fits at each position for Harbaugh and LA.
Wide Receiver
Keenan Allen and Mike Williams are both on big contracts heading into 2024. One is a potential cap casualty with massive savings if either is cut before June 1. The Chargers invested heavily in Quentin Johnston in the 2023 NFL Draft, but he didn’t play up to standard in his rookie season.
Top Options:
Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State
Malik Nabers, LSU
Rome Odunze, Washington
Mid-Round:
Xavier Worthy, Texas
Devontez Walker, North Carolina
Malachi Corley, Western Kentucky
Roman Wilson, Michigan
Late-Round:
Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, Georgia
Javon Baker, UCF
Jamari Thrash, Louisville
If the Chargers have a chance to draft Marvin Harrison Jr., then the decision is a no-brainer. He’s a true blue-chip, elite-level talent and possibly the top wide receiver prospect we’ve seen since Ja’Marr Chase.
In recent mock drafts, Harrison is almost always gone by the time the Chargers are on the clock with the fifth-overall pick. However, Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze are also supremely talented. If Harrison is gone, Nabers or Odunze shouldn’t be considered secondary options.
They are both worthy of being taken fifth overall in their own right. Nabers is a fast, fluid weapon whose explosiveness makes him elusive with the ball in his hands. A three-level threat, Nabers would ignite the Chargers’ offense with more dynamic and explosive routes and movement.
Odunze is a different receiver. At 6’3”, 215 pounds, he’s a versatile playmaker with some of the best body control we’ve seen in a prospect. He contorts to make even the most difficult of catches. Meanwhile, Odunze has the instincts, awareness, and anticipation to thrive at the catch point and stay in bounds.
Wide receiver is one of the biggest needs on this roster, but if Harbaugh and the Chargers go a different route in the first round, plenty of other options are available later on. The class is deep, and teams will be looking to load up with more than one option.
Sticking with the theme of speed and explosiveness, Texas Longhorns standout Xavier Worthy should be pretty high on that list. While undersized, he can have a similar impact on this roster as Zay Flowers has had with the Baltimore Ravens.
MORE: Top Wide Receivers in the 2024 NFL Draft
A prospect with supersonic speed and crafty route running, Worthy would be a great option at the bottom of Round 2.
If Harbaugh wants to lean on his Michigan experience, Roman Wilson could be an option. He will translate as a slot receiver at the next level because of his size deficiencies, but Wilson’s strong hands and smooth route running could make him a favored target for Herbert.
Offensive Tackle
The Chargers have a pretty good left tackle in Rashawn Slater, but an upgrade is needed at right tackle if Herbert is to stay healthy. The pass protection needs to improve for LA to press on under Harbaugh.
Top Options:
Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State
Joe Alt, Notre Dame
Taleise Fuaga, Oregon State
JC Latham, Alabama
Mid-Round:
Patrick Paul, Houston
Jordan Morgan, Arizona
Kiran Amegadjie, Yale
Late-Round:
Andrew Coker, TCU
Julian Pearl, Illinois
Ethan Driskell, Marshall
The 2024 NFL Draft has an impressive offensive tackle class, and the Chargers will have plenty of options if they decide to go this route with their early picks.
If Los Angeles were to use the No. 5 pick, the two favored options would be Olu Fashanu or Joe Alt, and the Chargers could have the pick of the bunch.
Fashanu is an explosive player with speed, strength, and flexibility. He’s extremely coordinated, and his awareness presnap sets him up for success.
Alt is a big hulking prospect at 6’8” and 315 pounds. He’s a technician who will enter the league with a massive floor. His powerful anchor gives him success as a pass protector, while his brawny blocking ability sees him cover ground in the run game.
Taliese Fuaga isn’t far behind the top two, but fifth overall may be slightly too rich for the Oregon State Beavers talent.
If the Chargers were looking to attack the need on Day 2, there should still be plenty of options available. Patrick Paul is teeming with top-tier traits but needs some development to start immediately at the next level. If afforded that luxury, he has great potential in the NFL.
Jordan Morgan is potentially an early Round 2 player, although he does have a chance to go earlier. His agility and burst out of his stance set him up to thrive as a run blocker, especially when out in space.
Running Back
Austin Ekeler is scheduled to be a free agent in 2024, and given the Chargers’ cap situation, it feels unlikely they will have the funds to invest in the RB position.
That would leave just Isaiah Spiller on the roster. The run game has been crucial for Harbaugh and integral to his philosophy, so getting bodies in the building is a must.
Mid-Round:
Blake Corum, Michigan
Trey Benson, Florida State
Jonathon Brooks, Texas
Bucky Irving, Oregon
Late-Round:
Dillon Johnson, Washington
Cody Schrader, Missouri
Dylan Laube, New Hampshire
Isaiah Davis, South Dakota State
If there is any former player who looks destined to join Harbaugh in LA, it’s Blake Corum. The star running back is the Wolverines’ record holder for the most touchdowns in program history and has been central to Michigan’s success under Harbaugh. A team captain and leader in college, Corum would slot straight into a rotation of RBs in the NFL.
Trey Benson is also another option on Day 2. He’s a tackle-breaking machine with all the characteristics that immediately translate to the next level. His balance, vision, and speed give him a fantastic upside.
Jonathon Brooks is coming off a torn ACL in 2023, but until suffering the injury looked like the most dynamic RB in this class. Offering value in the passing game as a receiver and pass protector, he could slot straight in next to Herbert in the backfield.
Other Positions
The above are the most glaring holes on the roster, and you will notice that the three positions were all on offense.
Harbaugh knows what an asset it is to have a franchise QB like Herbert, so doing everything he can to help his quarterback with weapons or pass protectors will be necessary. However, there are other positions that the team will need to consider fixing.
MORE: 2024 NFL Draft Prospect Watchlist
Cornerback and defensive line need an injection of talent and speed. Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack aren’t getting any younger, and Austin Johnson is scheduled to become a free agent in the middle of the defensive line.
Meanwhile, an additional tight end may be on the cards if the Chargers move on from Gerald Everett.
Defensive Tackle
Mid-Round:
Leonard Taylor III, Miami (FL)
Kris Jenkins, Michigan
Ruke Orhorhoro, Clemson
McKinnley Jackson, Texas A&M
Late-Round:
Tyler Davis, Clemson
Justin Eboigbe, Alabama
Keith Randolph Jr., Illinois
Tight End
Top Options:
Brock Bowers, Georgia
Mid-Round:
Ja’Tavion Sanders, Texas
Cade Stover, Ohio State
Ben Sinnott, Kansas State
Late-Round:
Erick All, Iowa
AJ Barner, Michigan
Jared Wiley, TCU
Cornerback
Top Options:
Cooper DeJean, Iowa
Terrion Arnold, Alabama
Mid-Round:
Kalen King, Penn State
Caelen Carson, Wake Forest
Mike Sainristil, Michigan
Late-Round:
Johnny Dixon, Penn State
Cam Hart, Notre Dame
Nehemiah Pritchett, Auburn
All the 2024 NFL Draft resources you need — the draft order, the top QBs, the Top 100 prospects, and the full 2024 Big Board — right at your fingertips at Pro Football Network!