Tag: NFL Draft 2024

Cardinals expected to stand firm and select Marvin Harrison Jr. 4th overall

The Cardinals have received numerous serious inquiries from teams looking to move up in the draft, but they will almost certainly pick

The Arizona Cardinals have been subject to rampant draft rumors the last few weeks leading up to Thursday’s 2024 NFL draft. At first, they were certain to stick and pick the best player with the 4th overall selection — which was a miracle (or was it) granted by Matt Prater in the team’s finale against the Seattle Seahawks.

Then, reports circled about them being a lock to move down with the Minnesota Vikings. When those rumors dwindled, talks about trades with the New York Giants and even the Chicago Bears became popular.

Despite all of the speculation, the Cardinals held firm on the fourth overall selection. The rumor mill even ran into Monday, where reports came out how the Cardinals won’t move down until they are on the clock, heightening the pre-draft excitement and nerves of all Cardinals fans.

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General manager Monti Ossenfort has undoubedtly done his due diligence into what his highly-coveted 4th overall pick could return, but there has always been a player atop their draft boards, one they’ve had keen eyes on for two years now.

Barring a late offer the team cannot refuse, the Arizona Cardinals likely will select Marvin Harrison Jr. with the fourth overall pick.

Harrison Jr. is the best wide receiver prospect in years and many believe him to be the top player in the last two draft classes. He’s a near-perfect prospect for his abilities, but also his off-the-field character and maturity, traits Ossenfort highly covets.

Last season, the Cardinals were motivated to move down, as Ossenfort knew he was staring a multi-year rebuild in the face and needed as many picks as possible to expedite the process. He also had two top prospects — those being Paris Johnson Jr. and Will Anderson, who he thought highly of.

This year, however, Ossenfort will not budge from the rights to draft Harrison Jr. unless the offer is akin to what the San Francisco 49ers once mortgaged to select Trey Lance back in 2021. Teams aren’t overly jumping at the thought to give up that haul for the consensus fourth-best quarterback prospect in the draft.

The Cardinals have actively scouted and had heavy interest in Harrison Jr. for two years now. The dominos leading to their incoming selection of Harrison began with the release of All-Pro DeAndre Hopkins a year and a half ago. Even current-Cardinal Paris Johnson Jr. has spoken to reporters about his conversations about Harrison to the desert dating back to 2022.

The Cardinals also were not aggressive in their negotiations with Hollywood Brown and traded Rondale Moore to the Falcons. They’ve been preparing to build the roster with Harrison headlining their receiving corps since January.

Could Ossenfort look to move down and right back up for Harrison this year? Some have speculated he could look to replicate this move from last year, and while that is certainly possible, the team is certainly not going to do anything without knowing they can still get their guy.

While most of the draft speculation has been surrounding the fourth overall pick, the Cardinals also have No. 27 from the Houston Texans. They may look to move up from that spot for one of the top three edge rushers, should one fall into striking distance. Those three are Alabama’s Dallas Turner, Florida’s Jared Verse and UCLA’s Laiatu Latu.

It makes sense, given the Cardinals have the most draft capital this year and have a glaring hole at edge rusher. Should they walk away with the top receiver prospect and one of the best three edge rushers, the Cardinals will be in much better shape to make a playoff push in 2024.

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Bears host 2 prominent offensive linemen for pre-draft visit

The Bears are set to host Alabama’s JC Latham and Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson this week.

A couple of top offensive line prospects are heading to Halas Hall this week to meet with the Chicago Bears ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft. According to ESPN’s NFL insider Adam Schefter, Alabama offensive tackle JC Latham is set to visit with the Bears on Tuesday night and Wednesday. Meanwhile, Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson was in Lake Forest on Monday, according to his Instagram.

Latham spent the last two seasons as Alabama’s starting right tackle, where he allowed just two sacks. He’s considered to be one of the top tackle prospects this year, trailing Notre Dame’s Joe Alt, but in the same conversation as Penn State’s Olu Fashanu and Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga. Latham is the second offensive tackle the Bears have brought in on a top-30 visit, along with Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton. Given his young age yet vast experience, Latham is someone the Bears could consider at No. 9 overall.

As for Powers-Johnson, he is the consensus top interior offensive lineman available and is a near lock to be selected in the first round. Powers-Johnson is someone who is more than capable of coming in right away and contributing as a team’s starting center, a position the Bears had trouble with over the last couple of years. It feels unlikely general manager Ryan Poles would pull the trigger on Powers-Johnson at No. 9 overall, but he’s a prime candidate to monitor if the Bears find a way to trade down.

With just over two weeks to go until the draft, the Bears are working hard to finalize their draft board, and more visits could still be on the way. But given their recent activity of wide receivers, edge rushers, and offensive linemen, it feels likely that one of those positions will be a priority after they select their quarterback at No. 1 overall.

Bears to host WRs Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, and Xavier Worthy this week

The three receivers, along with edge rusher Laiatu Latu, will visit Halas Hall this week.

There are only a few short weeks until the 2024 NFL Draft gets underway in Detroit, and the Chicago Bears are continuing to do their homework in regards to possible players they might select with their four draft picks. While it’s become increasingly likely the Bears will select quarterback Caleb Williams with the top selection, they still have their No. 9 selection to work with, and given their upcoming visits, it appears they’re zeroing in on one or two positions.

The Bears are set to bring in a number of wide receivers and an edge rusher this week on their top 30 visits. According to The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain, Chicago is bringing in wide receivers Marvin Harrison Jr., Xavier Worthy, and defensive end Laiatu Latu on Monday.

Meanwhile, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is saying wide receiver Malik Nabers will be visiting on Wednesday.

Harrison and Nabers are considered by many to be the top two wideouts in this year’s draft. Harrison was a Heisman Trophy finalist last year after totaling 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns for Ohio State, nearly matching his impressive 2022 season. Nabers, meanwhile, exploded with Heisman-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels under center. The LSU receiver totaled 1,569 yards and 14 touchdowns in a breakout season. Harrison and Nabers are mortal locks to be picked inside the top 10.

As for Worthy, he’s a receiver who could be in play should the Bears trade down and recoup some picks. He had a modest season at Texas with 1,014 yards and five touchdowns, but made huge waves at this year’s NFL Combine when he broke the 40-yard-dash record with a time of 4.21 seconds. He’s someone with blazing speed and could be a target on Day 2. It sounds like he welcomes the idea of becoming a Bear, too, given that he posted a photo on Instagram and tagged Williams as he was landing at the airport.

Chicago is bringing in plenty of receivers, but they’re still doing their due diligence on the edge rushers as well. Latu is considered to be one of the top edge rushers in this year’s draft and could be the top one overall if his medicals are of no concern. He totaled 23.5 sacks at UCLA over his last two seasons, including 21.5 tackles for a loss in 2023. While it may be unlikely the Bears select him at No. 9 overall, he would be someone in play if a trade down were to happen.

The Bears have had plenty of visits up to this point, and more are sure to happen before the draft gets underway, but it’s becoming clear they’re in the market for another receiver or an edge rusher. Time will tell whether any of these players hear their names called at the end of the month.

Can star RB Derrick Henry be the missing piece to the Ravens’ Super Bowl puzzle?

The Baltimore Ravens already ranked No. 1 in the NFL in rush yards per game last season, so is Derrick Henry really the missing piece?

The Baltimore Ravens already ranked No. 1 in the NFL in rush yards and attempts per game last season, so is running back Derrick Henry the missing piece to their puzzle?

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The Ravens totaled about 156.9 rush yards a game in 2023 through 541 carries. Their offense dominated tremendously on the ground, but this success should be heavily credited to the defense, which allowed opponents to score just 16.5 points per game.

With opponents held to low-scoring outputs, quarterback Lamar Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Monken were allowed to commit to running the ball. However, with their defensive secondary expected to take a few steps back, the offense may need to be even more dynamic this upcoming season,

Furthermore, the Ravens’ rush-by-committee approach now needs to be delegated proportionately.  Will Henry average 20 carries and Jackson 10? How will running back Justice Hill and Keaton Mitchell fit into the equation? 

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Ultimately, while it is premature to give a swift answer to these preliminary questions, the Ravens need to consider building their secondary with the best defensive backs available in the upcoming NFL Draft. Ravens’ fans should celebrate the arrival of Henry; it wasn’t inadequacy in the run game that ended the Ravens’ season last year.

However, the historic 60-sack, 18-interception season is behind the Ravens’ defense, so offensive excellence may need to balance the books for a secondary that may digress. Henry may need to have his most remarkable season yet if the Ravens plan on returning to the AFC Championship.

Caleb Williams met with Bears front office and current players in Chicago

According to Marc “Silvy” Silverman of ESPN 1000, Caleb Williams dined with the Bears on Tuesday night, which included some current players.

Caleb Williams was in town last night as part of his top 30 visit with the Chicago Bears and met with more than just the front office.

According to Marc “Silvy” Silverman of ESPN 1000’s Waddle & Silvy show, Williams was in town on Tuesday evening and had dinner with the Bears brass—including some current players.

During the NFL owners meetings last week, the Bears indicated Williams would be coming in sometime this week for his official visit. The twist, however, is that he was meeting with and getting to know current players during this dinner. “They had him not sit with the Bears executives, who were there, by the way,” Silvy said. “But he sat and ate with current players on the current Bears roster.” It is not known which current players were in attendance.

Prospects dining with front office members during the pre-draft cycle is nothing new and is normally part of the process for teams to get to know them, but hearing that Williams was with current Bears players is notable. It’s yet another indication that Williams will be the quarterback chosen by the Bears at No. 1 overall when the draft takes place in a few weeks, barring a major upset.

Williams isn’t the only high-profile prospect coming to town this week, however. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze will be visiting Halas Hall on Thursday for his top 30 interview. Odunze is one of the top receivers in the draft and is a popular target for the Bears to select with their second first-round selection at No. 9 overall.

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Jim Harbaugh is reportedly pumping up J.J. McCarthy’s stock to boost the Chargers’ NFL draft pick

Jim Harbaugh could be using his former Michigan QB for devious reasons.

Jim Harbaugh would never be one to rip one of his former esteemed players in public, let alone someone he won a college football national championship with.

With Harbaugh now coaching the Los Angeles Chargers while ex-Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy prepares for the 2024 NFL Draft, of course Harbaugh was going to talk up his former starting quarterback. You’d have been silly to assume otherwise about a player now weirdly in the rumored discussion for the No. 2 overall pick with the Washington Commanders.

But it seems some NFL draft evaluators reportedly think Harbaugh is taking his love for McCarthy a little too far. Via Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson:

“Interestingly, quite a few evaluators are pointing at [J.J.] McCarthy’s former coach at Michigan, Jim Harbaugh, who is now with the Los Angeles Chargers and sitting with the fifth overall pick. Nearly every evaluator I spoke to about McCarthy brought up the considerable praise that Harbaugh has been lavishing on his former player, which included calling him the best quarterback in this draft. To say that statement has elicited some eye-rolls would be a vast underestimation of how it was received in many personnel departments.

One longtime evaluator chuckled when I asked about McCarthy’s projection at No. 2 overall and shot back: ‘Harbaugh didn’t say he was the No. 2 quarterback. He said he was the No. 1 quarterback.’ Another longtime evaluator noted, ‘Jim [Harbaugh] needs everything but a quarterback. So every quarterback that gets taken before [the fifth pick] is a win for him.'”

Robinson’s report noted that evaluators didn’t suggest Harbaugh was behind the Commanders’ rumored interest. But some speculated about the coach understandably hyping up his college quarterback possibly being a factor in McCarthy’s soaring stock.

More from the Yahoo Sports report:

“There definitely could be a little bit of an ulterior motive to get someone pushed to him, for sure. That would be a Harbaugh type move,” one evaluator said. “There’s a plan there, I would say. Because they’re sitting there like, all right, if top four are QBs, we get our pick of whatever the hell we want. They’re probably in the best position of any team up there, because now the first four probably are going to be quarterbacks.”

Harbaugh’s been out of the professional game for a good while, but he’s not stupid. He understands that his name and his opinion hold a lot of influence in many football circles. With the Chargers unofficially taking 2024 as a gap year, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Harbaugh utilize that power to help Los Angeles rebuild its foundation.

Conversely, other seasoned NFL evaluators can usually sniff out you-know-what when it comes to overzealous prospect adoration. There’s a line for everything. Still, if anything, it might actually be surprising if Harbaugh didn’t try to use McCarthy and his opinion of the quarterback in his favor.

After all, the Chargers don’t need a new quarterback. They have Justin Herbert, a top-10 signal caller. It would be a tremendous break to watch four quarterbacks (Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels and McCarthy) go just before the Chargers at No. 5 overall, letting them select a potential young franchise player at any other position. And Harbaugh knows it.

We’re in peak NFL draft silly season, dearest readers. Harbaugh’s potential scheme here is probably just the tip of the iceberg in how many NFL coaches and general managers try to influence draft evaluations for their own gain. It’s just that time of year.

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2024 NFL Draft: Could top WR prospects make Rashod Bateman expendable?

After three NFL seasons, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman has produced just four touchdown receptions in 35 games played.

After three NFL seasons, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman has produced just four touchdown receptions in 35 games played. Bateman’s 2021 four-year $12.5 million deal has amounted to little and the Ravens should consider drafting his successor.

Timm Hamm of Sports Illustrated claims Bateman needs a change of scenery and possibly. Bateman’s skillset is undeniable. He’s quick, agile, and lengthy, all critical components of a possession receiver at the NFL level. However, Bateman has made receptions on just 60% of his targets throughout his short career. This may hint towards a lack of chemistry between him and quarterback Lamar Jackson or Jackson’s penchant to throw the ball elsewhere.

Contrarily, wide receiver Zay Flowers made receptions on 71% of his targets last year, likely due to his work in the short passing game. Bateman’s attributes may be more suitable in a pass-first offense, but the Ravens need to focus on doing what they do best: running the football.

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Coach John Harbaugh continues to endorse Bateman, and his optimism is contagious, but Harbaugh needs to understand that optimism won’t compensate for the salary cap shortcomings the team must overcome.

With the endless talent available in this years’ NFL Draft, the Ravens should be be looking to shop Bateman to a team who needs a wide receiver. The Ravens need to commit to their strengths, and that’s running the football, not convincing fans that Bateman will be something he’s yet to prove himself capable of being.

NFL rookies played well on Championship Sunday

Some quality rookie performances on Championship Sunday are a strong indicator that the NFL is becoming more competitive.

Here’s a look at the NFL rookies who played well on Championship Sunday as we prepare for SBLVII next weekend.

Bears fans couldn’t determine what Shane Waldron’s OC hire meant for Justin Fields’ future

Shane Waldron is now the most important person in the Bears’ organization.

After successfully revitalizing Geno Smith’s career, Shane Waldron was understandably one of the hottest offensive coordinators on the NFL coaching market. With Waldron at the helm, the Seattle Seahawks were No. 7, No. 11, and No. 13 in DVOA offensive efficiency in each of the last three seasons, respectively. Convincing him to coach for any team likely meant giving him a full blessing to do whatever he pleases with his personnel and his scheme.

Enter the Chicago Bears and what once again might be the most fascinating quarterback conundrum of the NFL offseason. Armed with the No. 1 overall pick (courtesy of the Carolina Panthers), the Bears and Waldron now have a multitude of options available to them.

One Waldron idea would be to keep Justin Fields, hope he continues progressing in the fourth year of his career, and trade down for another massive haul of draft capital and players. It’s not a bad idea, considering Chicago has the No. 1 overall pick and All-Pro caliber receiver D.J. Moore specifically because it traded down from the top selection last spring. Running that set-up back for a quarterback could set up the Bears with a litany of superstar, franchise-changing talent.

The other main path is trading Fields away to a team willing to build around his talents (and pay him) before drafting one of Southern California’s Caleb Williams or Drake Maye. While the Bears are undoubtedly at fault for much of his shortcomings, Fields’ progression has been disappointing three years into his career, calling into question whether it’s even worth trying to continue building around him when there are two surefire “clean slate” passing prospects now available to them.

Ever since a smashing Heisman campaign in 2022, Williams has long been regarded as the Next Big Thing in pro football. Considering most young quarterbacks play for terrible teams with little talent or infrastructure, Williams would benefit from the exception. He’d get the pleasure of developing with a merely mediocre Bears team on the ascent while getting coached up by a respected rising offensive mind like Waldron. Maye doesn’t have nearly the same hype, but most of the same sentiments would apply to him in Chicago, too.

Of course, there’s also this note about Waldron. He shares an agent with Bears general manager Ryan Poles, head coach Matt Eberflus, and Williams’ USC coach Lincoln Riley. It might not necessarily mean anything, but the connections are there:

Only time will tell how the Bears proceed with their quarterback situation for the future. Whatever one thinks about Waldron and their plans probably … just confirms your priors.

Bears STC Richard Hightower to coach in East-West Shrine Bowl

Richard Hightower will serve as one of the head coaches in this year’s East-West Shrine Bowl.

Chicago Bears special teams coordinator Richard Hightower is set to be one of the two head coaches for this year’s East-West Shrine Bowl. Director of football operations for the East-West Shrine Bowl, Eric Galko, confirmed an announcement will be coming on Thursday that has Hightower coaching the East team, while New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka will coach the West.

The East-West Shrine Bowl is one of college football’s postseason all-star games that dates back to 1925. Since 2017, the game has pulled assistant coaches from the NFL to serve as head coaches for each side. Hightower, entering Year 3 as the team’s special teams coordinator, now gets that honor and will have an up-close look at some of this year’s top draft prospects. He’s the second Bears coordinator to coach in a college all-star game in the last two years, joining former offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, who coached in last year’s Senior Bowl.

This year’s East-West Shrine Bowl takes place Thursday, February 4th, at 7 p.m. CT at the Ford Center at the Star in Frisco, TX.