While his overall stock has dipped just a tad, Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is regarded as a can’t-miss prospect.
During the 2023 college football season, there were some who thought he was the single-best player in the entire country.
Of course, he comes from spectacular bloodlines with his father being the legendary Indianapolis Colts receiver.
Harrison’s entire body of work has led some scouts to think that he’s not only the “surest” prospect in the entire draft but also a generational talent.
Once thought to be drafted as high as #3 overall by the New England Patriots, that idea has largely flew out the window due to the Pats needing a quarterback so bad.
However, Harrison is a prime target for any team that follows.
Could be the Arizona Cardinals at #4, the Los Angeles Chargers at #5 or the New York Giants at #6 … Who knows, he could even drop further.
Well, according to a stunning report, dropping further is exactly what Harrison prefers.
According to Chicago Bears insider Erik Lambert, there is speculation that Harrison is “quietly dropping his draft stock” on purpose so that he can fall to the Bears at #9.
Lambert suggests that Harrison may have a masterplan to hook up with quarterback Caleb Williams who is a virtual lock to be drafted by Chicago with the first-overall pick.
The controversy surrounding Harrison’s draft strategy intensified as he opted out of both the Ohio State Pro Day and the NFL Combine, depriving scouts and coaches of crucial opportunities to further evaluate his skills and body of work.
At the NFL Combine, where prospects typically have a platform to showcase their abilities and engage with media, Harrison was notably absent from scheduled interviews, leaving reporters puzzled and prompting speculation about his motives.
When questioned about Harrison’s absence, an NFL combine spokesperson provided limited insight, stating, “Marvin is not going to be speaking here. I don’t have any other information.”
While Harrison’s no-show certainly raised plenty of eyebrows in league circles, there are some teams that simply do not care about such actions.
No matter what his motives were, him skipping a media session or purposely trying to “tank” his stock isn’t going to affect the draft plans for some (most) teams.
In other words, if a team wants to draft Harrison prior to the Bears at #9, they will … Plain and simple.
Having said that, Chicago fans are drooling at the thought of coming away with both Williams and Harrison on day one.
Starving for a winner, there’s nothing Bears fans would love more than to head into the future with a Williams-Harrison combination.
Last season, Harrison hauled in 67 receptions for 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns. His overall skillset is expected to translate flawlessly to the NFL level.
Again, it’s hard to imagine Harrison lasting to the ninth pick.
There’s a solid chance the Cardinals trade the #4 pick to a quarterback-hungry team. Which means Harrison could fall right into the Chargers lap.
Wouldn’t that be something? … Harrison being drafted by his old college nemesis, Jim Harbaugh.
Between seeing him up close and personal and all of the countless hours of tape he studied on him while at Michigan, no NFL coach knows Harrison better than Harbaugh.
What are your thoughts on the report?
Do you think Harrison is purposely trying to tank his draft stock?
At the end of the day, where do you think he will end up???