Insider: Marvin Harrison Jr. Perfect for Cardinals

NFL Draft insider Mel Kiper says the Cardinals should sprint to the podium if Marvin Harrison is there.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Another day, another opportunity for the Arizona Cardinals to take Marvin Harrison Jr. in a mock draft. 

This rendition comes courtesy of ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.'s recent mock draft, where after the first three picks were all quarterbacks, Kiper pegged the obvious pick in Ohio State Harrison to Arizona at No. 4:

"If the first three picks break this way, I suspect the Cardinals will rush their selection to the podium. Harrison is an elite wide receiver prospect with all the tools to be a future All-Pro. But unlike in usual drafts, when most trades up into the top five are for quarterbacks, I wonder if teams might try to trade up for Harrison," said Kiper. 

"Would Arizona be able to pass up, for instance, a 2025 first-round pick to move down nine spots with Las Vegas? I'm not saying it would be able to get that haul, but it'd have to consider a deal if it did, right? The looming question is: Are the Cardinals a wide receiver away from contending?

"Luckily, this doesn't have to be decided today. Harrison would slot in perfectly as Kyler Murray's No. 1 target, and Arizona also has the Texans' first-round pick at No. 27."

The pondering of a team potentially trading up for Harrison - or perhaps Arizona moving down - is interesting, especially with somebody as plugged in as Kiper. 

With the Cardinals' second first-round selection, Arizona nabbed Missouri DL Darius Robinson:

"I moved Robinson into my Big Board after the Senior Bowl in early February. He was one of the best prospects during practices, showing lightning-quick get-off at the snap and power in one-on-one pass-rush drills, all at 286 pounds," said Kiper. 

"And when I went back to study his 2023 tape, you can see his performance was no fluke. Robinson put up 8.5 sacks and 35 total pressures. He's a fit for teams that run a 4-3 base scheme.

"Arizona's defense had a rough 2023, ranking 32nd in QBR allowed (57.3) and rushing yards allowed per game (143.2) and 30th in sacks (33). The franchise should devote this second Round 1 pick -- which was acquired from Houston's trade up last April -- to the front seven."