Joel Klatt names Marvin Harrison Jr. the best draft prospect in 2024

We just wrapped up the 2023 NFL Draft this weekend and many analysts have already projected what will go down in the 2024 Draft in Detroit. Will it be dominated by quarterbacks again led by Caleb Williams and Drake Maye? Or will another player earn the distinction as the top overall selection?

To Joel Klatt, he went with the latter. On his show on Monday, he went with Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. as his top prospect for next year’s draft. He said his combination of skillset, impact, and bloodline has helped make him the best player in college football. In turn, they will also be what puts him atop his way-too-early draft board heading into next spring.

“The best player next year is Marvin Harrison Jr.,” Klatt stated. “The dude is the best wide receiver I’ve seen in college football since Randy Moss. He does everything well. He’s like his dad in a baby Julio Jones body. Runs great routes, catches it better than anybody, got outstanding body control…It’s insanity.”

“The space he creates, the ability to win, to be physical? He’s the best player in college football,” said Klatt. “Marvin Harrison Jr. is my No. 1 prospect for next year because he’s the best player.”

Harrison Jr. caught 77 passes last season as a sophomore for 1,263 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. He benefitted the most from the absence of Jaxon Smith-Njigba as he led the Buckeyes in all three categories. Now, as he heads into his junior year, he looks primed to eventually follow in his Hall of Fame father’s footsteps. He also appears set to join the other former top-notch wide receiver prospects out of Columbus in the pros.

Klatt’s top-five consisted of Harrison Jr., USC’s Williams, and UNC’s Maye along with Georgia TE Brock Bowers and Penn State OL Olumuyiwa Fashanu. In PFF’s 2024 mock that they released on Monday, Harrison Jr. went second overall behind Williams to the Arizona Cardinals.

Harrison Jr. has already done about as well as one can when it comes to living up to a last name like his. Still, if all goes according to plan, another outstanding season at Ohio State is all that stands between him and a high selection next year in The Motor City.

Kiper Jr. makes bold prediction for Marvin Harrison Jr. in 2024 NFL Draft

To say ESPN’s NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. is high on Ohio State Buckeyes star wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. would be an understatement.

While the 2023 NFL Draft just finished up, it’s never too early to look ahead to next season. That’s exactly what Kiper is doing, projecting that Harrison will be one to the top picks in next year’s iteration, right up at the top with quarterbacks like Caleb Williams and Drake Maye.

“I think when you look at Marvin Harrison Jr. — you didn’t know how great he was this year, you found out quickly,” started Kiper. “Jaxon Smith-Njigba, out with a hamstring. CJ Stroud needs that go-to guy. All year it was Marvin Harrison Jr. and ironically, it was Marvin Harrison Jr.’s injury in that game against Georgia, when he went down, their offense stalled. Their offense had issues. So I think they win that game if Marvin Harrison Jr.’s healthy. They may have moved on and won a national title. (Harrison Jr.) is that valuable. He’s critical to that offense.”

“He’s a big-time player, as his father was. Marvin Harrison, coming out of Syracuse back in the day. So Marvin Harrison Jr. could be the second or third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.”