Mel Kiper Jr. makes bold prediction for Ohio State WR 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. He’s 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.”

Alas, Harrison is the next in a long line of star Ohio State wide receivers to be projected as one of the top players in their respective draft class. On Thursday, Jaxon Smith-Njigba became the latest Buckeyes pass catcher to receive the honor of being a first round pick, and Kiper believes Harrison could be an even better player.

The numbers don’t lie when it comes to Harrison. The Buckeyes star amassed 77 receptions for 1,263 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns last season for Ohio State. He was essential to Ryan Day’s operation on offense, and helped the aforementioned Stroud lead the program to the College Football Playoff.

He was well on his way to a legendary night against the Georgia Bulldogs, amassing five catches for 106 receiving yards and two touchdowns before leaving the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl with an injury. Moving forward, he’ll look to return with a vengeance in 2023.

The 2024 NFL Draft looms large regardless, and Marvin Harrison Jr. will be projected as a top pick for the next year, that’s no doubt.