Field Yates on having Marvin Harrison Jr. as WR1: 'Apparently I'm being brave'

We’re moving through the tear-down phase of the NFL Draft. And that means we’re hearing everything wrong with Marvin Harrison Jr.

In fact, ESPN analyst Field Yates said he’s “being brave” to project Harrison as the top receiver in the NFL Draft. Keep in mind that most mock drafts have listed Harrison as the top receiver, if not the best prospect, available for the 32 teams on April 25. Yet LSU’s Malik Nabers, who worked out for scouts last week, may be passing Harrison.

But Yates said he’s holding steady with his prediction that the former Ohio State Buckeye will go higher than Nabers. He believes the Cardinals, with pick No. 4, will grab Harrison after a three-team run on quarterbacks from the Bears, Giants and Patriots.

“When you have a player who is this polished and powerful, physical, the elite body control to make contested catches,” Yates said of Harrison. “For a team who was absolutely starving for receiver help, this is a, ‘don’t overthink it’ selection by (Arizona) GM Monti Ossenfort.”

However, the Cardinals GM has talked of being open to trading down. Arizona doesn’t need a quarterback, so some team, possibly the Vikings, Raiders or Broncos, may want to swap spots.

“Hopefully, Arizona says, ‘We’ve got a massive need and one of the best receiver prospects that Mel (Kiper) has scouted in a long time,” Yates told his ESPN audience. “And he’s been doing this for 46 years.’ Was too good for me to pass up.”

Cardinals invited both Harrison, Nabers for an NFL Draft visit

The Cardinals, like all the other NFL teams, are inviting some key draft targets in for a visit. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that Arizona already played host to Nabers this week. But Harrison also will be a guest at Cardinals headquarters. Teams can host up to 30 prospects before the NFL Draft.

Yates used a former Cardinals star as an example of what may be happening with Harrison.

“Marvin Harrison Jr., to me, is being criticized like Larry Fitzgerald was when he came out of Pitt, right?” Yates said. “How’d that work out for the Cardinals, taking Larry Fitzgerald at three? Pretty dog gone good, right? I think the Cardinals take Marvin Harrison Jr.

“I think Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze, that battle for two, I went with Malik Nabers over Rome, and I love them both. … But I’m loyal to a fault, guys. Marvin Harrison Jr. was my guy back in August. He’s my guy right now, just by the smallest of edges, slimmest of edges, slimmest of margin over Malik Nabers, and Rome Odunze.”

Odunze is the former Washington Husky star. All three wideouts are projected as top 10 picks in the first round. You can check out more On3 NFL Draft coverage here.