TEMPE, Ariz. — After weeks of speculation and trade talk, Arizona Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort took the safest bet he had. He stayed at No. 4 Thursday night and selected perhaps the best prospect in this year’s NFL Draft.
Marvin Harrison Jr., gives the Cardinals exactly what they need — a wide receiver who will help elevate quarterback Kyler Murray and add star power to an organization in need of some. He will provide an offensive jolt the first time he steps on the field, accelerating a rebuild that is unfolding quicker than expected.
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“I cannot be more excited to be an Arizona Cardinal, really,” Harrison said on a conference call with reporters not long after the selection. “I’m super excited to get to work, and that’s really all that’s on my mind right now.”
This draft had plenty of main characters. Caleb Williams, the No. 1 pick. Jayden Daniels, the Heisman Trophy winner. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy and others. But Ossenfort might have been the most intriguing simply because no one knew what the second-year GM planned to do. With so many teams needing a quarterback — six would go in the first 12 picks — the Cardinals were in an attractive position.
Take the best non-QB or trade down for additional draft capital? Many experts predicted Ossenfort would do the latter simply because of Arizona’s needs — a 4-13 team usually has several. Plus, Ossenfort had traded down from No. 3 in last year’s draft, and that’s all it takes these days to form a reputation.
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But not this time.
Ossenfort said his phone buzzed often Thursday. He wasn’t necessarily looking to move down, but he was willing to listen to offers from interested parties. The Cardinals were prepared to pick Harrison unless someone overwhelmed them with an offer. No one did.
“If somebody would’ve come and offered us something that would’ve been the best thing for the team, we certainly would’ve done it,” Ossenfort said. “Ultimately, we felt the best tonight about sticking with Marvin at No. 4.”
With its second first-round pick, Arizona selected Missouri edge rusher Darius Robinson at No. 27, filling a position of need. The Cardinals have nine more selections, beginning with No. 35. But this draft’s headliner is already set.
The son of Hall of Fame receiver Marvin Harrison, Harrison did not work out at the NFL Scouting Combine or at a pro day. Instead, he worked on preparing for his rookie season. He met with the Cardinals twice — first in a formal interview at the combine and again in Arizona. By then, Ossenfort had a good grasp on everything Harrison had accomplished during an All-American career at Ohio State. The meetings showed Ossenfort and head coach Jonathan Gannon what Harrison was like as a person.
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What stood out was the wide receiver’s process. How he prepared. How he practiced. How he handled himself. The impression Harrison left was one of maturity, accountability and dependability. This wasn’t a prospect who might need time to adjust to the NFL, this was a prospect who was planning to make an impact from Day 1.
“I would say this: Marvin has a plan,” Ossenfort said. “Marvin has a plan on why he’s been as successful as he is thus far and why we believe he’s going to continue to ascend. Whether it’s the way he takes care of his body, the way he practices, the extra (work) that he does, his plan for improving his skill set, he has a plan. That certainly has helped being around his father, I’m sure.”
Make no mistake: Arizona’s future is on Murray’s shoulders. After five seasons and an ACL injury, he still has much to prove. Last year, Murray returned midseason and showed flashes of his old self. He still has a ways to go, however, to become a top-10 quarterback in the league, and Harrison was the best player in this draft who could help him get there.
LETS WORK. pic.twitter.com/8DzJ6ZmVQA
— Kyler Murray (@K1) April 26, 2024
Shorty after the selection, Murray posted a video of himself watching as the Cardinals made the pick. The quarterback’s excitement was obvious. He clapped his hands and pumped his fists. Gannon said he had seen the video. And that he also had heard from Murray.
“He sent us a couple texts,” Ossenfort said. “Probably can’t share those with you guys. How about we say this: Kyler was pretty excited.”
“Kyler’s awesome, man,” Harrison said. “If you look at his record from high school, he’s always won. And that’s the kind of guy you want to play with. He’s just so dynamic as a quarterback, and I just want to come out there and make his job easier whenever I can.”
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“Sure things” are rare in pro sports. College stardom does not always translate. Heart and character are difficult to measure. And sometimes smart people just get things wrong.
Harrison, however, looks like an exception. He has the bloodlines, talent and approach to become a star. Twenty years ago, Arizona drafted Larry Fitzgerald, who became a franchise receiver and helped lead Arizona to the Super Bowl. It’s difficult to make such a comparison, but people here already have made the connection. That’s the excitement Harrison brings to the desert.
“I just want to try to learn the playbook, get my connection down with Kyler, and whatever happens from there happens,” Harrison said. “(Being the No. 1 receiver) definitely is not my thought, I’m just going there to work as hard as I can. We’ll see what happens from there.”
GO DEEPER
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(Photo of Marvin Harrison Jr. at Thursday’s NFL Draft: Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)
