ESPN analyst details how Jim Harbaugh can help Justin Herbert become a top five passer in the NFL

Justin Herbert is off to a solid start in his NFL career, but there is hope that the former Oregon star can take his game to another level in 2024. Jim Harbaugh taking over as the Los Angeles Chargers head coach should help Herbert, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

The NFL analyst joined SportsCenter Saturday morning and detailed how Harbaugh can help Herbert become one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL.

“Justin Herbert, so taking the page here from the 2020 draft class … a situation where he hasn’t gotten it done in big games, hasn’t broken through in the playoffs,” Fowler said. “But Jim Harbaugh could be the guy to unlock Herbert. Talking with some scouts around the league, they believe that a more supportive running game and improved offensive line will help Herbert take that next step to become a top three to five passer in the league.”

Harbaugh is a proven winner at the NFL and college level, and he has done an excellent job with quarterbacks throughout his career.

That includes last season when Michigan won the national title with J.J. McCarthy at quarterback. Harbaugh helped develop McCarthy, who ended up being drafted in the top 10 of the 2024 NFL Draft. It will be a big topic to see how Herbert develops moving forward with Harbaugh as his coach.

Joe Hortiz: Chargers had ‘no real discussions’ of trading Justin Herbert, drafting J.J. McCarthy

Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh raised some eyebrows ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft when he tabbed former Michigan star J.J. McCarthy as the best QB in the draft. Harbaugh also declared that McCarthy was the best quarterback in Michigan history as the duo led the Wolverines to a national title.

Because of Harbaugh’s bold claims about his former quarterback, some questioned if the Chargers would be interested in trading Justin Herbert in order to make a run at J.J. McCarthy. However, Chargers GM Joe Hortiz said that trading Herbert and making a move for McCarthy was never seriously discussed.

“I can tell you this, I never got one call about it. I had some loose questions at the combine. They were quickly shot down,” Joe Hortiz said on The Pat McAfee Show. “So there were no real discussions about us trading Justin Herbert or teams really being interested.”

The Chargers drafted Justin Herbert in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft with the No. 6 overall pick. He was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year that season and has also already made a Pro Bowl.

Hortiz said the Chargers were not interested in moving on from Herbert and other teams knew that.

“They know what we have. They know where we stood,” Hortiz said. “So there was no real questions. I know there were some rumors out there, but I don’t know where they’re coming from. They’re not coming from the Chargers organization, because none of us got calls.”