NFL Analysis

4/25/24

5 min read

Marvin Harrison Jr. NFL Draft 2024: Combine Results, Scouting Report For Arizona Cardinals WR

Marvin Harrison Jr. muscles away from two trailing defenders
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) pushes off Minnesota Golden Gophers linebacker Devon Williams (9) as he runs down the field during the first half of their game.

The 2024 NFL Draft is getting close, making it an excellent time to highlight some of the class' best players with scouting reports. Each report will include strengths, weaknesses and background information. 

Here's our report on Marvin Harrison Jr.

Marvin Harrison Jr.'s 2024 NFL COMBINE RESULTS

  • Height: 6'3"
  • Weight: 209 lbs
  • 40-Time: DNP (Did Not Participate)
  • 10-Yard Split: DNP
  • Vertical: DNP
  • Broad Jump: DNP
  • 3-Cone: DNP
  • Shuttle: DNP

Marvin Harrison Jr. 2024 NFL DRAFT SCOUTING REPORT

STRENGTHS:

  • Long and fluid with short-area burst and acceleration as a vertical route runner and as a runner after the catch.
  • Excellent short-area quickness for a receiver with his size and length. Can stop and change direction seamlessly.
  • Beats press coverage with short-area quickness and burst off the ball. Gains separation early in route stems.
  • Separation quickness and burst at the top of his route stem. Has loose, fluid hips with smooth change of direction.
  • Consistently got on top of college corners on vertical routes. Stride length smoothly accelerates his play speed.
  • Makes contested catches when demanded. Has excellent body control and hands.
  • Wide catch radius with outstanding hands. He made tough catches away from his frame with extension.
  • 2023: High-level athleticism to make the transition from vertical stem to stop. Has body control and refined route running.
  • Subtle and refined in his route running, with an understanding of how to attack and set up corners with vertical stems.
  • Detailed and nuanced route runner, manipulating defenders with his upper and lower body to create separation.
  • Changes direction effortlessly at the top of his route stem without breaking stride. An easy mover with explosive traits.
  • Outstanding body control, vision and hand-eye coordination to track deep balls. Catches the ball easily.
  • Consistently showed multiple releases off the LOS to defeat press coverage. His routes were never disrupted.

WEAKNESSES:

  • None

NFL TRANSITION:

Harrison Jr. is one of the best wide receiver prospects we have seen in a long time. He has an his elite traits profile and no discernible weaknesses. He has outstanding size with high-level athleticism and movement skills. Harrison Jr. has a refined and subtle understanding of route running and of how to attack and break down corners to create separation.

Harrison Jr. showed multiple releases vs. press coverage and was never disrupted in his route off the LOS, predominantly winning with short-area quickness and explosive burst into his stem. What was consistently impressive was his quickness at the top of his route stem to force corners off their spot or to get their body turned. The result was that he dictated the creation of space on his routes.

In addition, you could see a sudden explosive burst on vertical routes, allowing him to run by — and get on top of — corners. He is a desirable combination of smooth and twitchy, which seems deceptive, given his size and length.

Then, you factor in his exceptional hands with his easy ability to snatch the ball away from his frame and you have a high-level prospect with three-level explosiveness who is likely to be a WR1 as a rookie.

Harrison Jr. is a prototypical No. 1 wide receiver with his size, speed, hands, body control, explosiveness and physicality profile. He is clearly the top wide receiver prospect in the 2024 draft class


OTHER NOTES:

Harrison Jr. came to Ohio State as a 4-star recruit from St. Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia. He was a unanimous All-American in 2022 and 2023 and the winner of the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s best receiver in 2023. 

In 2022, Harrison almost exclusively lined up on the outside to the boundary and the field. He was a static receiver in the different formations.

In 2023, Harrison Jr. had 67 receptions on 117 targets with 33 targets and 22 receptions (for 360 yards and six touchdowns) coming out of the slot. He is location-versatile but likely is best as a boundary X.  


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