Being viewed as this draft’s top receiving prospect, Marvin Harrison Jr. is widely expected to go off the board in the top 10. The Cardinals have been continually connected to the Ohio State wideout at No. 4. Arizona and other teams will not have pre-draft workout results to use when assessing Harrison’s stock.
After not working out at the Combine, Harrison is also skipping his pro day. The former Buckeyes star informed teams he will not take part in workouts in front of scouts, SI.com’s Albert Breer tweets. While it is rather unusual for a healthy player to not work out at a pro day, Harrison does not have much to gain by doing so.
The Cardinals were impressed by Harrison at the Combine, ESPN.com’s Josh Weinfuss notes, indicating multiple personnel sources did not believe the second-generation wide receiver would be impacted by not working at the annual Indianapolis-based showcase event. It is a slightly different matter for a player to then pass on participating at his pro day, but Breer adds Harrison asked the nine teams he met with at the Combine if they needed to see anything from him at the Ohio State pro day. The group responded in the negative.
Harrison’s pre-draft training has veered in this direction for a bit, with it being known the standout prospect has not prepped for drills or the 40-yard dash. Instead, the latest Ohio State-developed receiver prospect is readying for an NFL offseason program. Most prospects will not be able to pull off such an effort, but Harrison has secured high enough marks teams will only be able to judge his game tape.
Harrison eclipsed 1,200 yards in each of his final two college seasons and caught 14 touchdown passes in both years. While the 2024 class features another deep receiver crop, Harrison leads the way. Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest ESPN mock draft sends Harrison to the Cardinals at No. 4, while Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com offering has the Jets trading up for him at No. 5.
With Harrison not working out today in Columbus (and would-be early-round prospects Emeka Egbuka and TreVeyon Henderson staying in school), Breer adds no GMs or head coaches are slated to be in attendance today. If Harrison’s strategy results in his top-five status being unchanged come draft day, this off-grid route during a pre-draft process could be relevant for future high-end prospects. If Harrison ends up not becoming the draft’s first receiver taken, then this strategy will be second-guessed.
Diva in the making.
He’s a top ten receiver in the making. I don’t think it makes him a diva that he’s choosing not to risk pulling a David Ojabo when he’s perhaps the cleanest blue chip prospect in recent memory and a lock to go in the top few picks.
We’ll see, but comes across as very arrogant person. And we have seen multiple WR’s traded because of it. He certainly is a great talent, but will he be worth the headache is my point.
Lots of the best receivers are a little arrogant. Corners, too. And some of those arrogant receivers and corners were great trade acquisitions. But I also haven’t gotten any sense that Harrison is a headache waiting to happen. He’s a truly great prospect.
He is all that and a cup of tea. He will be missed at the shoe.
@arty he’s just like his dad very introverted, and doesn’t like talking to the media, because people will make up conclusions like you did. What’s the point when he’s either the first or second wide receiver off the board in a loaded class. He also asked the top 9 teams if they needed to see anything at the combine and they said no.
” i dont want to risk getting injured and affecting my draft status” =/= diva
This is similar to players opting out of bowl games to preserve draft status. It’s a business decision.
What does Harrison Jr gain by doing pro day? Nothing
What does he stand to lose if he gets injured? A lot.
Heck it’s even less diva-ish than skipping bowl games. You could argue that skipping bowl games is letting down teammates and coaches. His pro day is strictly for his own benefit.
Actually it effects his teammates because now the scouting presence is going to be greatly reduced. They’ve already stated that because of this no GM’s will be in attendance. I get it being a business decision, but he could’ve atleast found a way to still draw the upper brass in hopes of helping someone else.
Teams will still have presences there. Upper brass weren’t going to be paying all that much attention to Cade Stover and Tommy Eichenberg even if they were there.
And he’ll do individual workouts/interviews for some teams. According to a scout I know, those are the only workouts that really matter.
If you haven’t figured out that he’s the best WR in this draft by now, Him running around isn’t going to add anything to the picture. He’s the best player in this draft but won’t be picked where he deserves because Everybody wants a QB who will probably stink anyway.
Exactly. Who can blame the kid for not wanting to risk injury will a multi-million dollar contract just weeks away? Smart move and I believe most fans and coaches would agree. There’s plenty of tape documenting his skills.
Believe it or not but MHJ stock is slowly falling. If he works out it will probably drop a little further. Nabers is the Best WR in the draft. Don’t get me wrong MHJ is really talented, he wont fall out of the top 10, but Nabers is a better overall player imo.
I think Nabers would be the top receiver taken in most drafts–certainly the two before this one–but I don’t think there’s anything to Harrison’s stock falling. If he’s falling at all, it’s only because lesser QB prospects are being shoved up the board by desperate teams.
Fair point. Who do you think would have a bigger rookie season;
MHJ catching for Kyler Murray
or Nabers catching for Herbert?
Both of those sound incredibly fun. The answer might come down to how much the Chargers even throw the ball. I get the sense the Chargers are going to trade down, though. But that could be wrong, especially with two elite receivers and them being down their top two.
I agree, had LAC not dropped their top-2 receivers I could see a trade down, but I feel like they let them go (cap casualties) because they knew they could potentially replace the production with an elite rookie. Should be an exciting draft.
I can still see a trade down from Chargers perspective.
Say you trade down with Minnesota for #11 and # 23
You can take Odunze at 11 possibly and take a OT at 23
Or take OT at 11 and target someone like Brian Thomas Jr at 23
Or you can trade further down from 11, accumulate more assets, draft a WR and OT in late 1st + WR in 2nd like Ladd McConkey and say Corum in 3rd round.
Draft is deep at their most important positions (WR and OL)
Depending on trade down scenario and picks you get
walking away with say Thomas Jr (late 1st), McConkey or Legette (2nd), and a 3rd or 4th round WR like Roman Wilson or Jalynn Polk definitely improves the Chargers WR room.
@oh boy it’s possible odunze is at #11 not sure if the bears will take him at 9 now with acquiring Keenan. Definitely makes more sense to have 2 solid starters in the first. Kinda liking jpj 0 sacks, 3 qb pressures in three years and they definitely need a center for the future. They have plenty of options to make it work.
Hey Oh Boy HWG..
Roman Wilson is flying up the draft board. He is projected at #51 as of this hour. Jalynn Polk is currently projected to go early in the 3rd fyi. Obviously these are just projections.
The Trade Down:
If LAC can trade Minny for the #11 and #23 they probably should.
Grab Odunze at #11 if he is still there otherwise grab
OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu – OT Troy Fautanu – OT J.C. Latham
With the #23 Pick WR Adonai Mitchell or WR Xavier Worthy.
2nd round pick #37 grab CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr. or CB Kamari Lassiter
OR
#11 CB Quinyon Mitchell
#23 OT Tyler Guyton or IOL Graham Barton (JPJ if available)
#37 WR Xavier Legette or WR Troy Franklin or (BA)WR
@Oooof might be better to trade down, maybe Rome will fall to 11. Either way if they can get the #11, and #23 I say do it because they have a lot of holes to fill they can just take bpa, and two first round picks is a start.
I’m inclined to agree, even if it would hurt to pass on one of those guys.
@Oooof it stings more because of allen forcing a trade. They only have one cornerback on the roster so Arnold wouldn’t be a bad choice, and pray Jackson powers johnson is at #23. Get a wide receiver in the 2nd
Personally I would rather hope Frazier is there at 37 than take JPJ in the 20s. But if the Chargers had 11 and 23, they could do a lot of things they need. They could, for instance, probably take their choice of corner and then a legit first round defensive tackle or reverse that. There should also be some speedy receivers available for 37 or 69.
@Devious one yeah I’ve been seeing nabers is wr1 on most teams boards, but it’s was always said to be very close. Both are very good wouldn’t say he’s dropping. It also possible that’s happening because if you’re at 6 you won’t get him so why waste your time.
he literally asked the teams if they needed to see him do anything at a pro day and they said no. why risk injury or potentially hurting your stock.
it’s not being a diva, it is being smart, guaranteed top10 pick, probably the first non qb picked.
That blows for any of his teammates who were going to work out at pro day. If no NFL coaches or GM’s will be in attendance, why bother.
To do athletic testing on your home field in front of scouts. The same reason most prospects do pro days. It’s not Harrison’s fault that this is Ohio State’s shallowest draft class in years.
Comes across to me as a man who rightfully has nothing to prove and everything to lose from a silly injury. His pops knows the drill. He didn’t talk a lot, either. Just focused on his trade. That’s not DIVA, it’s intelligent.
Todd p pretty much like the manning’s came off robotic with the media. Got flax for it, they definitely have personality. some times it’s better to avoid it if you can. Either way someone will criticize it.
Harrison does not have much to gain by doing so.
========================
Probably not, but this goes for a lot of players. Why should Williams or Daniels, or Nabers or Odunze show up?
But, suppose the Cards are on the fence about trading back, say if Minny offers them two #1s. Not seeing the pro day, or at least the measurables becomes one tick mark on trade ledger.
@joe I say cardinals will trade down if the patriots take wide receiver they would probably get a offer they can’t pass up. If not cards will stay, and teams will target the chargers pick because you just have to get ahead of the giants for the 4th qb
The Cards picking Harrison is the HR swing for the Chargers, especially if their target is Bowers. They can flip with Minny and almost definitely get Bowers. And if someone wants to target Nix with the MN #9 (?), they could possibly land Bowers.
Why should they? I’d argue they shouldn’t
Pro day is an opportunity for guys to increase draft stock if/when they do not perform well at combine.
Guys like Williams Daniels Harrison Jr Nabers draft stock is already high.
Also an opportunity for guys who did not go to the combine to get noticed, especially useful for guys in the UDFA range.
Maybe he’d prefer not to go to the Cardinals. Either way, anyone not in need of a QB would be crazy not to take him if he’s still on the board.
If you know that the Cardinals or at worse the Chargers are going to take you the only teams you talk with or do a mini workout with would be the Bears, Commanders or Patriots if they ask.
Laquon Treadwell 2.0 or Jerry Rice 2.0? [4.6+ 40 time]
My money’s on the Rice version. The kid has solid mentors and skills.
Bro what lmao
This whole not working out at the combine and pro days is being way overblown. There is 3 years of college tape for scouts to watch of him. People put too much stock into these dog and pony shows that are the combine and pro day.
Where were guys like Fiske, Fagua and Worthy prior to the combine? Granted, it is less important for the top handful of guys, but vital for a lot of others.
My comment was based around the teams and media making a bigger deal out of it then it should be. I’m all for the players trying to raise their stock if they want to but the whole process in my opinion is dumb. To watch how guys measure at the combine and how they look in shorts and t-shirts at pro days versus how they play in games and how that’s transferable to the NFL is absurd. That’s how guys like Henry Ruggs, John Ross, Zack Wilson, Jamarcus Russell get drafted where they were. Teams get over their ski’s about the arm talent QBs show in a pro day or how fast the speed guys run at the combine. Jerry Rice ran a 4.7 at the combine he turned out to be pretty great because he understood leverage, footwork, coverages, and he played faster then he ran at the combine.
I agree completely, film tells you everything you need to know. What happens in a game is much harder than any pro day or combine.
Depends on the player and scheme they played in. For someone like JJ McCarthy, the pro day will matter more because the offense he was in limited what he did so there is a lot of projection. MHJ can just say go look at the film.
When is Belmont College having their Pro Day?