Report: Former Michigan OL Karsen Barnhart reunites with Jim Harbaugh, signs with Los Angeles Chargers as UDFA

Michigan offensive lineman Karsen Barnhart didn’t hear his name called during the 2024 NFL Draft. But he’s still going to get a start on an NFL career as he signed as an undrafted free agent with the Los Angeles Chargers and his former college head coach, Jim Harbaugh, according to Adam Schefter.

Barnhart, a Michigan native, spent five seasons playing for the Wolverines, developing into a starter along the offensive line. He played a sixth offensive lineman and then started at tackle for the back-to-back Joe Moore Award winning lines for Michigan in 2021 and 2022. He started all 15 games for the Wolverines during the 2023 national title run, mostly at right tackle. Barnhart also made four starts at left tackle and played inside at guard in the postseason following the injury to Zak Zinter.

Despite playing tackle primarily for the Wolverines, Barnhart projects as an interior lineman at the NFL level, and likely a backup or spot starter, not a potential long-term solution. His mindset and technique are at more than requisite levels, but Barnhart just isn’t physically imposing enough to consistently win against the speed and power of NFL defensive linemen, especially outside at tackle.

Barnhart played high school football at Paw Paw (Mich.) High School, where he was a four-star prospect. He was the No. 271 overall recruit in the 2019 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

What NFL Draft analysts are saying about Barnhart

NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein sees Barnhart in a similar guise to most evaluators: A late round pick or UDFA that can stick at the bottom of the roster but will struggle to make an impact or crack the starting lineup wherever he lands.

The floor is there to precent Barnhart from flaming out, but he doesn’t have the twitch or pop to truly win against NFL defenders, as Zierlein sees it.

“After playing multiple positions at Michigan, Barnhart is likely an interior line prospect as a pro,” Zierlein said. “He has decent size and length as a guard, but he doesn’t play with enough pop into contact. He’s missing twitchy, sudden hands to snap into pass rushers and run defenders for early leads in the rep. Barnhart is an adequate technician on double-teams and single blocks but rarely uproots and dumps opponents at the point of attack. He’s an athletic pull-blocker but fails to excite enough in any phase.”