Tag: Buckeyes in the NFL

Garrett Wilson, Marvin Harrison Jr. swap jerseys as Cardinals annihilate Jets

Garrett Wilson and Marvin Harrison Jr. met in their first NFL matchup Sunday, and they left with each other’s jersey.

The day after Ohio State football throttled Purdue, Garrett Wilson and Marvin Harrison Jr., two former Buckeyes greats, battled it out in their first NFL matchup against each other.

While Harrison Jr.’s Cardinals destroyed the Jets by a margin almost similar to the Buckeyes 45-0 beatdown of Purdue, the two seemed to leave on good terms, swapping jerseys after the game.

Here’s a video that captured the moment.

The Cardinals won 31-6, taking a 24-6 lead into the half. Harrison Jr., who hasn’t quite had the production that many would’ve expected from the top-five pick, did end with five receptions for 54 yards and a touchdown.

Wilson was the Jets’ leading receiver, but he totaled just 41 yards and five receptions. It wasn’t a good day for the Jets offense, one that finished with 151 passing yards and 79 rushing yards.

The Jets pushed their record to 3-7 with the loss and Arizona is now firmly a playoff contending team with a 6-4 record through the first 10 weeks. Expect more to come from these receivers as they’re both still entering their respective primes.

Former Ohio State football players go off in NFL Week 9 action

Ohio State football has been among the best in the country at developing stars in the NFL, and numerous of them went off in Week 9.

The Ohio State Buckeyes have been able to both recruit and develop some of the best football players in the world.

Just this past NFL Draft, the Buckeyes had a top-five pick in Marvin Harrison Jr., and they could have a few more on the defensive side of the ball in the upcoming spring event.

Nonetheless, it was the players already in the NFL that took center stage Sunday as several former Ohio State standout players went off.

As Dan Hope notes, four former Buckeyes went for multiple scored, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the Seahawks’ first-round pick in 2023, arguably had his best game in the NFL.

It is also only fitting that three of the four on this list are receiving as Ohio State has been the clear top program in the country for developing the position.

As for Dobbins, seeing him on the list as well, especially after the injuries he’s sustained throughout his career, is a heart-warming story of perseverance.

That said, let’s hope each of them continues to play at a high level as the NFL season is just over halfway over.

Marvin Harrison Jr. named one of 24 ‘intriguing’ NFL players

What kind of year do you think Harrison Jr. will have in his rookie campaign? #GoBucks

Marvin Harrison Jr. looked like a generational talent coming out of college. Without a superstar quarterback, Harrison Jr. put up superstar-like numbers at Ohio State last season.

That, and his untapped potential and limitless ceiling, is what created a dynamic prospect for NFL teams to salivate over. The Arizona Cardinals won that race by taking him with No. 4 pick in the 2024 NFL draft. Harrison was the first non-quarterback taken back in April.

Instantly becoming the go-to option in Arizona, Harrison has high expectations set on him even as a rookie, and with Kyler Murray healthy and at the helm of the offense, the Cardinals could be better than many expect.

As for Harrison, some don’t know what to expect from the future star. That’s why the New York Times columnist Mike Jones labeled him among the 24 most intriguing players for the 2024 season.

“Committed to seeing 2019 No. 1 pick Kyler Murray live up to his potential as one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the league, the Cardinals used their top pick on Harrison — one of the most polished wide receiver prospects to enter the NFL in some time,” wrote Jones. “The son of Hall of Famer and Indianapolis Colts great Marvin Harrison will be asked to restore explosiveness to a Cardinals team that mustered only 19.4 points a game last season and has just one winning season in the last eight years.”

https://twitter.com/The33rdTeamFB/status/1830033327459360857

Harrison, who stands 6-foot-3, put up over 1,200 receiving yards in each of his last two seasons at Ohio State, ending with 28 touchdowns across those two seasons as well.

Primed to get 100-plus targets as a rookie, Harrison might be among the favorites at getting the Offensive Rookie of the Year trophy should Chicago’s Caleb Williams stumble.

Kirk Cousins, Brock Purdy ranked over C.J. Stroud in Madden 25

Madden 25 rankings are starting to come out, and they may have officially make CJ Stroud underrated as numerous quarterback are ranked above him.

The Ohio State Buckeyes had a reputation for having high-profile quarterbacks go into the NFL and not have instant success.

That is, until C.J. Stroud changed that narrative and had one of the best rookie seasons in the history of the position. Stroud was the Houston Texans‘ first round pick in the 2023 NFL draft, having been taken as the No. 2 overall selection.

Stroud, who won the AP and PFWA Offensive Rookie of the Year, made the Pro Bowl as a rookie and ended with 4,108 passing yards and 23 touchdowns. He had just five interceptions.

One would think that’d make him a top-ten quarterback in the NFL, but EA Sports’ Madden 25 doesn’t see it that way, having released its top-ten quarterbacks.

Here they are below, with San Francisco’s Brock Purdy and Atlanta’s Kirk Cousins being the bottom two on the list. Unfortunately, there are no signs of Stroud.

Fun fact, Stroud has as many interceptions as Cousins and about 1,800 more passing yards. While Purdy was impressive, he had more than double the interceptions.

The rumors on ‘X’ make it appear that Stroud is ranked 81 overall and the 14th-best quarterback in the NFL. To say the least, that’s disappointing after one of the best rookie seasons in the history of the game.

WATCH Marvin Harrison Jr. makes eye-popping catch at Cardinals training camp

Marvin Harrison Jr. showed off his untapped potential with this insane grab during the Arizona Cardinals training camp.

Marvin Harrison Jr. was seen as a generational talent when he walked onto the Ohio State campus, and he left as a first-round pick and one of the players with the highest potential in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Harrison Jr. was taken by the Arizona Cardinals with the No. 4 overall pick.

He will be catching passes this season from Kyler Murray, who has struggled with injuries over the past few years which is why the Cardinals ended up with a top-five pick.

With the Buckeyes back in the mix, NFL teams are also starting their training camp. Fans from all around are getting a glimpse of their favorite players. Harrison Jr. has rewarded those who ventured out to the Cardinals camp, making this insane catch over his defender.

Harrison Jr., who was the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year last season, ended with 1,211 receiving yards, 52 fewer than the season prior. He tied his 2022 number with 14 touchdowns.

At 6-foot-3, Harrison Jr.’s size and frame should make him a menace at the highest level in football. Expect a dominant rookie season for the star receiver.

NFL.com’s Kevin Patra names Dallas Cowboys good fit for Michael Thomas

Michael Thomas is still a free agent, and NFL.com is suggesting the Dallas Cowboys could be a good landing spot.

The Ohio State Buckeyes have had numerous NFL stars coming through Columbus in the past decade, but none of them may be more high-profile than wide receiver Michael Thomas.

Thomas, who reset the wide receiver market with his historic deal with the New Orleans Saints, is still looking for a new destination to take his talents for this upcoming season. With training camp starting up, the clock is ticking.

Thomas was the 2019 AP Offensive Player of the Year and is a 3-time Pro Bowler but has struggled to stay healthy over the last several seasons. He has played in 10 or fewer games in 3 straight seasons, ending each with 500 or fewer yards. Those come after he notched 1,725 yards in the 2019 season.

The potential is there for the 31-year-old former Buckeyes standout. Where should he land? NFL.com’s Kevin Patra thinks the Dallas Cowboys, who have the dynamic Dak Prescott, could be a good option.

“Given Dallas’ offseason inactivity, it shouldn’t be a surprise seeing the Cowboys on this list twice. Jalen Tolbert, Jalen Brooks, KaVontae Turpin and sixth-round pick Ryan Flournoy are battling for the WR3 spot during preseason action,” Patra wrote. “The Jalens have the leg up on locking down the spot, but if no one stands out, the ‘Boys should look for a veteran to fill the void. Thomas hasn’t been healthy the past four seasons, but he can still win off the line of scrimmage and provide size. His ability to play the boundary and slot would fit well with CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks. It would be a low-risk, high-upside move for Dallas to put Thomas in Mike McCarthy’s offense.”

Given their pass-heavy offense, it does make sense, and for Thomas, he could be a strong second or third option behind superstar CeeDee Lamb. Numerous teams could be in the market for a Thomas-like talent.

WATCH: Justin Fields shows athletic ability on the ground in Pittsburgh

Could Fields do enough to be QB1 in Pittsburgh? #GoBucks

If you haven’t been paying attention, former Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields is turning heads in Pittsburgh’s fall camp. He took QB1 reps the first day because of an injury to Russell Wilson, but even since then, he’s flashed the potential both through the air and on the ground that has media members in Pittsburgh buzzing.

Could he do enough to take over the starting spot from Wilson? That remains to be seen, but from what we’re seeing come out of the coverage in Pittsburgh, he’s doing his very best to make it a difficult decision.

Take a look at one such instance where Fields gets outside the pocket and shows off the running ability he’s known for, looking easily like the best athlete on the field.

By the way, this accompanied a pretty impressive showing on some notable throws as well, so it’s not all about what he can do with his legs. We’ll stay close to what seems like a developing situation for the Steelers.

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.

Former Ohio State cornerback retires from NFL

Best of luck to Conley going forward! #GoBucks

Former Ohio State cornerback Gareon Conley is retirng from the NFL acording to multiple reports. The news ends Conley’s efforts to make a comeback in the NFL after not being a part of the League since 2019.

Conley was originally drafted in the first round by the Oakland Raiders in 2017, but was traded to the Houston Texans in 2019. An ankle injury ended his run in Houston and then he went without a team for three years before getting another shot to play professionally with the D.C. Defenders of the UFL this spring.

He must have made an impression because he was picked up by the Dallas Cowboys and participated in the first three days of fall camp before informing the organization that he would be retiring. The Cowboys then released Conley to make room on the roster.

We’ll see what Conley gets involved in next ane will continue to follow any other notable news with former Buckeyes in the NFL.

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.

Former Ohio State linebacker Steele Chambers claimed by Patriots

Chambers will get another shot to make an NFL team. #GoBucks

Former Ohio State linebacker Steele Chambers has been claimed by the New England Patriots, one day after being released by the Detroit Lions.

Chambers did not see his name called during the 2024 NFL draft, but was signed to an undrafted free agent contract by the Lions. He was one of five former Buckeyes not selected in the draft, one more than the total that did get drafted.

The 6-foot, 223-pound linebacker will now work to carve out a role with the Patriots as a backup. He joins another former OSU linebacker, Raekwon McMillian on the unit. It’s always an uphill battle to make the club as an UDFA, but Chambers has the ability to run, cover, and tackle in space, and that’s coveted in today’s game, even if just on special teams.

Time will tell if he’s able to stick it out in New England.

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.

Marvin Harrison Jr.’s rookie contract reportedly signed without a certified NFLPA agent

I wonder who helped Marvelous Marv out? #GoBucks

By now you’ve probably heard that former Ohio State receiving star Marvin Harrison Jr. has signed his rookie contract with the Arizona Cardinals. It is notable and significant because Harrison signed his deal relatively quickly, and in fact is still the highest drafted player to have done so.

He was selected by the Cardinals as the No. 4 pick, and that usually garners a significant pay day. And while the official numbers have yet to be officially reported, based on the structure of deals and where they fall these days, the contract has been reported to be in the neighborhood of a four year deal worth $35,374,742 that includes a $22,547,084 signing bonus. The base salaries are the league minimum of $795,000 in 2024; $960,000 in 2025; $1.075 million in 2026 and $1.19 million in 2027. There is a club option for a fifth year.

The other thing that’s notable about the contract, however, is that Harrison does not appear to have used a certified NFLPA agent. How do we know? Because the contract for Harrison has been submitted and he still does not appear to have a registered agent.

Now, maybe there’s something going on with the paperwork or behind the scenes we simply don’t know about, but these things are usually pretty boilerplate and standard. Our best guess? Maybe a Hall of Fame receiver that also doubles as his father helped negotiate things?

Either way, if more comes out about how Harrison’s contract was signed and who shepherded him through it, we’ll have it for you.

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.