NFL Mock Draft Journal: Marvin Harrison Jr buries Penn State; NFL teams scouting a game breaking talent
Caleb Williams, Drake Maye? While NFL teams are tanking for a chance at one of these potential franchise quarterbacks, a generational talent in Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr continues to soar as a golden consolation prize for the team that does not get the overall pick in the NFL Draft.
In a Big Ten matchup on Saturday, Harrison Jr was the offense as the Buckeyes topped Penn State in a 20-12 victory.
In the game, the top wide receiver prospect hauled in 11 receptions for 162 yards and this late touchdown to seal the deal for the No. 2 team in the nation:
MASERATI 🗣️🎙️@MarvHarrisonJr extends @OhioStateFB's lead! 🌰 pic.twitter.com/xvBdmoiJ1A
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 21, 2023
Earning the name “Maserati Marv”, this top NFL prospect is a game breaking talent a few franchises can ride into the future. With a total of 119 receptions for 2,006 yards and 22 touchdowns in his three seasons at OSU, Marvin Harrison Jr is that No. 1 receiver talent that will have a few NFL teams salivating at the top of the NFL Draft board.
NFL teams have to consider Marvin Harrison Jr. as a top prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft
One NFL team sitting nicely at the top of the board are the Chicago Bears who are starving for both a quarterback and top wide receiver. With the No. 1 and No. 2 selection in the NFL Draft as of Week 7 of the 2023 NFL season, the Bears can nab Harrison Jr. with one of the picks and either draft Maye or Williams with the second pick or trade it away if they believe in Justin Fields.
Sounds a good problem to have which makes losing seem like winning for Bears fans if the NFL Draft order stands.
As for the Denver Broncos, who currently hold the No. 3 overall selection, the idea of Marvin Harrison Jr. could drive the team to trade their current young receivers for more draft capital. Another team that is starving for a franchise quarterback, any thought of passing on Caleb Williams or Maye would be crazy, but if they can get another first round pick or even another second-round pick, they could come out of the draft with a quarterback prospect like Bo Nix if they can’t pass up on Harrison Jr. in the top 5.
The Arizona Cardinals have two first rounders, so if they decide Kyler Murray’s days are over in the desert, they can take the top receiver in the draft with their top pick and go with a quarterback like Michael Penix Jr or a J.J. McCarthy with their second-round pick.
A couple other teams in the running for Marvin Harrison Jr., the New York Giants and New England Patriots, could decide to stand pat with their current quarterbacks (Daniel Jones and Mac Jones) and give them an elite talent to throw the ball to. This idea may be even more intriguing for a team like the Patriots who have been starving for a No. 1 receiver seemingly forever.
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As Harrison Jr. continues to dominate college football, it will be interesting to see which NFL teams end up in that No. 1-3 spots in the 2024 NFL Draft and whether they pick him over a top QB talent. Those teams are certainly watching and paying attention to what this game-breaking, game-changing wide receiver is doing on a weekly basis in leading the undefeated Ohio state Buckeyes.