Jim Harbaugh: J.J. McCarthy plays QB 'the best of any in the draft'

Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh believes former Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy has set himself apart from the top quarterbacks available in next month’s NFL Draft.

Harbaugh, the former Michigan head coach, spoke during the NFL owners meetings in Orlando on Monday morning and raved about McCarthy’s performance at Michigan’s Pro Day last Friday in Ann Arbor. McCarthy, who was 27-1 as a starter at Michigan and helped lead the Wolverines to the 2023 national championship, is a projected first-round pick.

“He’s the one who plays quarterback of all the quarterbacks in the draft,” Harbaugh told reporters of McCarthy. “There are great quarterbacks in the draft, but I think he plays quarterback the best of any quarterback in the draft.”

Harbaugh said McCarthy’s workout was the best he’s seen from a quarterback at a pro day.

"Not only were his feet great in the individual drills, but then he started throwing and every throw was right there,” Harbaugh said. “That was the best throwing day I've ever seen. To hear coaches and GMs come up to me and say, 'Great job with J.J.’ Like I predicted, once they were around him, I was hearing stories about how he is on the board and on the field, all the intangibles. It was absolutely no surprise whatsoever. There was raving. It was unsolicited.”

He was asked how McCarthy might handle being an NFL quarterback in a larger market, and Harbaugh launched his response by praising McCarthy’s parents, Jim and Megan.

“He’s like the perfect blend of Jim McCarthy and Megan McCarthy,” Harbaugh said. “Jim McCarthy, great gift of personality and empathy and competitiveness and just bigger than life. And then there’s Megan. She is quiet but, like, a stone-cold killer. If somebody were to do something to the family, you would see a tiger. And that’s J.J.

“They could be adulating J.J. or being booed or being hit, and this killer comes out. Whether it’s good or it’s bad, he’s got an extra gear, especially when he’s challenged. And you also see the big personality, and do anything for another guy on the team, for a small kid that walks up to him. My son Jack feels like J.J. is one of his really good friends. He’s incredible. Big market, small market, hot weather, cold weather, it won’t matter.”

achengelis@detroitnews.com

@chengelis