Arizona Cardinals Mock Draft buzz: Marvin Harrison Jr. or blockbuster trade at No. 4

The Arizona Cardinals are in an interesting spot in the 2024 NFL Draft.  With the No. 4 overall selection in the draft, the team could either draft a big-time playmaker for Kyler Murray or trade the pick for more draft capital.

There was a time the Cardinals were believed to be in the mix for one of the top quarterbacks in the draft, but in committing to Murray, this AFC West squad have positioned themselves to build around him.  Whether it’s selecting the top ranked receiver in the draft or trading that No. 4 pick and selecting later in the draft, Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort is in a good position to add some firepower through the draft on both sides of the ball.

With rumors swirling surrounding that top 5 pick, the GM said Arizona will keep their ears open.

“We’re always going to be listening,” Ossenfort said this past week, via the Associated Press.  “We’ll always have the conversation.  We may not get to a point where the deal makes sense, whether it’s at No. 4 or anywhere we’re picking, but we’re always going to have the conversation.”

These NFL Draft rumors have added some fun to mock drafts, which has the Cardinals either staying pat and adding an exciting playmaker or trading back and still adding one of the top playmakers in the draft.

CBS Sports Mock Draft has Cardinals taking Ohio State star Marvin Harrison Jr.

The Cardinals will have a decision to make at No. 4 if they stay pat.  With top receivers Marvin Harrison Jr., LSU’s Malik Nabers and top tight end Brock Bowers sitting there, Ossenfort will decide to go with the Harrison Jr. according to the latest CBS Sports Mock draft.

CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards writes:

“If quarterbacks are taken with the first three selections, then Arizona will likely get some tantalizing trade offers at No. 4 overall. Will it be enough for the Cardinals to pass on selecting Marvin Harrison Jr.? I think that decision would truly be 50-50 dependent upon the trade offer.”

Is Harrison Jr. too good a prospect to pass up at No. 4?

That is a decision the Cardinals will have to make.  If a team like the Minnesota Vikings are willing to offer two first round picks to move up, Ossenfort will have to give it thought as Arizona could possibly walk aways from this draft with three first-round talents, that could still include a player like Bowers if he slides or another top 3 wide receiver prospect.

NFL.com mock draft goes with the trade, Cardinals select Rome Odunze

This is where it gets fun.  Chad Reuter, NFL Draft Analyst for NFL.com, plays around with that trade idea for the Cardinals in his latest four-round 2024 NFL mock draft.

Reuter has the Cardinals swapping the No. 4 overall pick with the Vikings for No. 11 and No. 23.  Then he has Arizona getting aggressive and trading No. 11 to the Atlanta Falcons for No. 8 overall and selecting exciting Washington Huskies receiver Rome Odunze.

Reuter writes:

“The Cardinals are aggressive after trading down out of the No. 4 spot. They now give up a third-round pick to jump back up and snag Odunze, whose all-around game makes him a potential longtime Pro Bowl-level player.”

With these moves, it would be an A+ draft for the Cardinals, who would get one of the top playmakers in the draft and then snag one of the top edge rushers entering the draft in UCLA’s Laiatu Latu at No. 23 according to Reuter’s 4-round mock draft.  In selecting Odunze, Laiatu and Clemson’s Nate Wiggins at No. 27 in the same draft, the Cardinals would more than justify passing on Harrison Jr. and trading that No. 4 overall selection.

Raising Zona 7-round mock has Cardinals sticking with the plan

Over at our sister site Raising Zona, Harrison Jr. is the choice for the Cardinals in their latest 7-round mock draft.  Fansided staff writer Ryan Heckman says the team will do the obvious and draft the Ohio State star which should make the Cardinals fandom very satisfied.

Heckman writes:

“This is a receiver without a weakness. Anything you ask of him, he can do. The speed, athleticism, route running, catch radius, body control ... it's all there. This is the best receiver in the draft we're talking about, and he now gets Kyler Murray. End of story.”

Here at NFL Mocks, it is hard to disagree with either of the mock drafts selecting Harrison Jr. at No. 4, but it is fascinating to think what the Cardinals will be able to do by trading back and potentially having three first-round picks.  That is some draft firepower.  Either direction will be a win for Arizona.