Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. took to social media to announce he was officially declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft. It comes as no surprise despite Harrison Jr. nearly waiting for the deadline to declare. Harrison Jr. possesses a legitimate opportunity to be the No. 1 overall player selected.
Receivers rarely have that chance, but Harrison Jr. is simply that talented. The term "generational" shouldn't be thrown around loosely, but few would blame you for bestowing it upon Harrison Jr. Now that he's officially entered the draft, we've identified the three best fits for him.
CHICAGO BEARS
The Bears essentially possess three options with the No. 1 overall selection. General manager Ryan Poles could stay pat and select their QB1 (Caleb Williams or Drake Maye), trade down for additional picks, or select Harrison Jr.
Chicago's impending decision ultimately depends on whether or not they view Justin Fields as a legitimate franchise quarterback. If they decide to retain Fields and trade down, they'd be wise to target the quarterback-needy Washington Commanders (No. 2) and New England (No. 3) as ideal partners. That would keep the Bears within striking distance to draft Harrison Jr. Pairing Harrison Jr. with Fields and D.J. Moore would give the Bears the weapons necessary to field an explosive offense next season.
ARIZONA CARDINALS
The Cardinals were perceived to be tankers entering the 2023 season. Their 4-13 record doesn't stray far from that projection, but they remained extremely competitive all year long. First-year head coach Jonathan Gannon prepared a team that played hard weekly, proven by their Week 17 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Cardinals welcomed a midseason return for quarterback Kyler Murray, who now appears to be a long-term fit for general manager Monti Ossenfort. The Cardinals aren't well-positioned to select Murray's potential successor with the No. 4 overall selection. Instead, they'd be better off supporting Murray by surrounding him with weapons. If quarterbacks dominate the top of the draft, and they often do, Harrison Jr. could fall into Arizona's lap. Murray and Harrison Jr. would form a dynamic duo.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
The Patriots are going through a full organizational restructure. Six-time Super Bowl-winning coach Bill Belichick departed the franchise on Thursday. On Friday, linebackers coach Jerod Mayo was announced as his successor. The Patriots are now expected to hire a general manager who will oversee the 53-man roster in their shift away from Belichick, who possessed full control.
Whoever the general manager is will inherit the No. 3 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. Do the Patriots draft a quarterback like Jayden Daniels or do they attempt to move up for Williams or Maye? In a GM's first draft, they must land a surefire talent. If landing the quarterback of their choosing becomes too complicated for the Patriots, Harrison Jr. would represent one heck of a consolation prize for a franchise that's struggled to identify talented receivers in free agency or the draft.
