NFL Analysis
12/20/23
7 min read
2024 NFL Draft: Where Top WRs Could Land This Year
By now, I’m sure you’re familiar with how talented the 2024 NFL Draft’s wide receiver class is.
It is loaded at the top and has plenty of depth that should put starters into the league throughout the top 100 picks. Today, we’ll look at the draft’s top five wide receivers and see which teams fit them best in the first round.
>> READ: Latest 2024 NFL Mock Draft
Best Fits for 2024 WR Prospects
Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State
Arizona Cardinals
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 205 pounds
Class: Junior
With the Arizona Cardinals playing their way out of the Caleb Williams and Drake Maye sweepstakes, they can turn their attention to one of — if not the — best players in this draft class, Marvin Harrison Jr.
Wide receiver is already a big need for Arizona, and wide receivers Marquise Brown and Greg Dortch have expiring contracts at the end of the season. While the Cardinals’ offense has gotten positive production from Trey McBride and Michael Wilson this season, adding a talent such as Harrison Jr. would take it to a new level with a healthy Kyler Murray.
>> Watch: Former GM Analyzes Bears' Options
The receiver out of Philadelphia is one of the most advanced wideouts we’ve seen in some time. His size, fluidity and nuance as a route runner make him a dangerous weapon at all three levels of the field. His great hands, catch radius and body adjustments on throws up and away from his frame make him one of the more reliable options.
Arizona offensive coordinator Drew Petzing has done a nice job doing more with less, but giving him Harrison Jr. could take the Cardinals' offense to the next level sooner rather than later.
Malik Nabers, LSU
Chicago Bears
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 200 pounds
Class: Junior
There’s been a ton of discussion surrounding the Chicago Bears. Will they draft a quarterback at No. 1? Should they trade the pick and build around Justin Fields or stay at one and take Harrison Jr.?
In my opinion, the Bears should take the first option and select one of the top two quarterbacks at No. 1. They should trade Justin Fields while his value is high, and with their second first-round pick, they should draft LSU WR Malik Nabers.
While Nabers isn’t quite the caliber of prospect that Harrison Jr. is, some aspects of Nabers' game are more intriguing. He is the more explosive player, and his ability to take over games with that explosiveness makes him one of the most valuable players in this draft class.
Nabers split time between the slot and outside at LSU (226 slot snaps and 195 outside snaps). His ability to line up anywhere on the field without losing a step is one of my favorite traits about his game.
Pairing the play-making skills of Nabers with DJ Moore would instantly give the Bears one of the most explosive wide receiver rooms in the NFL. That could quickly start the offensive rebuild in Chicago that the team desperately needs to compete in the NFC.
Rome Odunze, Washington
New York Jets
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 215 pounds
Class: Junior
One of the guys in this draft class who isn't getting enough love early in the draft process is Washington WR Rome Odunze, who is one of the main reasons Washington's offense was so successful in 2023. He came up big for QB Michael Penix Jr. throughout the year in some crucial spots.
Odunze doesn’t provide the flash that Harrison Jr. and Nabers have, but he’s as consistent as they come with route-running, contested catches, ball adjustment and yards after catch.
Odunze’s football IQ is off the charts as a route-runner when asked to exploit zone coverage, and he developed his release packages in 2023 to beat press coverage off the line.
Adding his intelligence and consistency to the New York Jets — whose offense has been far from either of those things in 2023 — would be a huge step to get back on track in 2024, with Aaron Rodgers returning from his torn Achilles.
Rodgers speaks highly of players who always seem to be in the right place at the right time, do the dirty work in the running game and remain consistent throughout a game or season. Odunze does all those things at a high level, which makes his fit in New York with Rodgers and Garrett Wilson one of my favorites in this draft class.
Brian Thomas Jr., LSU
Kansas City Chiefs
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 205 pounds
Class: Junior
Kansas City, enough with the undersized, explosive, gadget players. Go get yourself a Brian Thomas Jr.
Rashee Rice’s emergence has some in Kansas City thinking that Kansas City Chiefs could go a different route with their first-round pick come April. Still, I’m begging the Chiefs to do the right thing and add a high-value weapon to the receiver room to pair with Travis Kelce and Rice.
Brian Thomas Jr. would be the perfect wideout to help get Patrick Mahomes and the offense back on track. Thomas Jr. lived a little in Nabers’ shadows throughout the last few seasons. But his draft stock is rising after a strong ending to the 2023 season, and more people are starting to watch his tape.
Thomas Jr. was one of the most productive receivers in the country last season, posting 1,079 yards and 15 touchdowns on 60 receptions. He wins consistently as a route runner and is one of the more reliable targets in this class with some of the best hands.
Kansas City has been let down by its wide receivers too often this season due to drops; reliability is one of Thomas Jr.'s best traits.
That, paired with his size, fluidity and nuance as a route runner, would give Mahomes and Andy Reid a receiver they can count on to come up with the big play when needed most.
Keon Coleman, Florida State
Buffalo Bills
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 215 pounds
Class: Junior
Every time I watch the Buffalo Bills’ offense, it's clear their wide receivers need more size and physicality.
Even with Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis continuing to find success with Josh Allen, it always feels like the Bills are missing that big body to make the tough catches deep and in the middle of the field.
That’s where Keon Coleman can greatly help Buffalo's offense. Unlike most of the other wide receivers above, Coleman won’t create big-time separation, but he can make tough catches all over the field. He plays the position at a much better explosive rate than speed rate but changes speed and direction smoothly for such a big receiver.
Coleman’s ability to make plays after the catch and be a threat in the screen game is another trait NFL teams will covet. While some could be scared off by his lack of separation and elite speed, there’s no denying what he can bring to an offense that uses him correctly.
We’ve seen Joe Brady do just that with his play-makers in Buffalo since taking over as the offensive coordinator and play-caller in Week 10.
