The New York Jets may be seeking to land the best non-QB in the NFL draft
New York Jets fans have spent the past four months bickering about the draft prospects who will likely be available at No. 10 overall. Now, it’s starting to look like all those debates may have been for naught.
Rumors are beginning to swirl that New York is seeking to make a blockbuster trade-up move – one that does not merely move them up a couple of spots. On Monday, just three days before the draft, The Athletic’s Connor Hughes said he believes the Jets (along with the Giants) will be “aggressive” in trying to trade up for Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. if he falls past the No. 4 spot.
If Marvin Harrison makes it past No. 4, I believe both the #Jets & #Giants will be aggressive in trying to get him.
I have the #Jets making that happen in my final mock https://t.co/ehV6843lvy
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) April 22, 2024
Harrison is ranked as the No. 4 overall prospect on the NFL Mock Draft Database consensus big board, making him the top non-quarterback. It is almost unanimously expected that Harrison will be selected fourth overall by the Arizona Cardinals. At NFL Mock Draft Database, 89% of the mocks in the site’s system have Harrison going to the Cardinals at No. 4. This makes it the second-likeliest pick of the draft, trailing only Caleb Williams to the Bears at No. 1 (98%).
It would be a shock if Arizona does not stay put and take Harrison. With that being said, anything is possible in the NFL draft. In a league where the demand for elite quarterbacks is immeasurable, perhaps the Cardinals receive a tantalizing offer from a team seeking to trade up for a quarterback.
If Harrison does slip past the fourth pick, it would behoove Joe Douglas to at least pick up the phone and see what the Los Angeles Chargers want in exchange for the fifth overall pick. The price would undoubtedly be lucrative, probably requiring future first- and/or second-round picks from the Jets due to their lack of a second-round pick this year. But in a win-now season, trading up for Harrison could be worth it no matter the cost. There is no prospect in the draft who is likelier to be a superstar as soon as he touches the field in 2024.
After losing Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, the Chargers are badly in need of a wide receiver themselves, so I would personally be surprised if they did not take Harrison in the event he slipped to them. Still, if the Jets are desperate enough to come out of this draft with a win-now prospect, they might present an offer that cannot be refused.
More rumors are sure to arise over the next 84 hours. Tomorrow, we will probably learn the Jets are thinking about trading down and taking a defensive tackle. (Relax, I’m kidding… or am I?)
Should be a thrilling week for New York sports. We already have three teams in playoff action, including two in the same building who recorded Game 1 wins on back-to-back nights, and now we have two football teams reportedly looking to trade up in the draft for the same superstar prospect. Kick back and enjoy the show.
