Insider: Cardinals Will Draft Marvin Harrison Jr.

Three quarterbacks went off the board in Mel Kiper's mock draft, allowing the Arizona Cardinals to take MHJ.

ARIZONA -- The Arizona Cardinals know there's plenty of talent to choose from in the 2024 NFL Draft, though there's one name that separates itself from the pack: Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr.. 

Harrison has been lauded as many things - a generational talent, a potential cornerstone receiver and a game-changer, just to name a few.

Harrison to the desert simply makes too much sense. Kyler Murray needs a legitimate weapon to further Arizona's postseason hopes, and surely Michael Bidwill would like to sell a few more jerseys. 

The only thing in the way? The potential of any combination of three teams gunning for Harrison ahead of Arizona, who is slated to pick at No. 4.

Time will tell if Harrison is ultimately available, though NFL draft insider Mel Kiper Jr. released his first mock draft of the 2024 offseason using what he's heard from sources around the league.

After having three straight quarterbacks go off the board to begin festivities - something other NFL insiders believe will happen - Kiper has the Cardinals running to the podium to select Harrison.

Kiper's full analysis:

"OK, finally, I can discuss a position other than quarterback. Kyler Murray played well enough after returning from his knee injury to keep the job in Arizona. The plucky Cardinals won four games and showed some improvement throughout the season, but they still finished 32nd in rushing yards allowed per game (143.2), 31st in points allowed per game (26.8) on defense and 29th in pass yards per attempt (6.2) on offense. In short, they have big needs on both sides of the ball. Harrison is one of the best receiver prospects of the past decade, a 6-foot-4 speedster who can run every route and break tackles after the catch. In Arizona, where Marquise Brown is a free agent, he could step into the No. 1 role as a rookie. He has all the tools to win Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2024. The Cardinals also own the Texans' first-rounder in this draft, thanks to last year's trade during Round 1, and they could look to the defense or offensive line there."

With Arizona's second first-rounder, Kiper had the Cardinals taking Oklahoma tackle Tyler Guyton at No. 27:

"We're finally back to Arizona, which almost certainly thought this pick would be much higher when it made the trade with Houston last April. I gave the Cardinals a WR1 at No. 4 overall, and this pick could be a way to solidify their bookends, as they drafted Paris Johnson Jr. at No. 6 a year ago. Johnson spent his rookie season on the right side, but he's suited to play left tackle, as that's where he played his final season at Ohio State. Guyton, however, spent almost all of his time at right tackle for the Sooners; he allowed zero sacks in 2023. As I wrote in my scouting report on Guyton, NFL teams will covet his physical tools, even though he started just 15 games in college. I could also see the Cardinals take a cornerback here, with Quinyon Mitchell (Toledo) and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (Missouri) the best available in my rankings."