The 2024 NFL Draft boasts a strong receiver class, but Ohio State star Marvin Harrison Jr. has long been considered the best of the bunch.
The 6-4, 205-pound playmaker was a two-year starter for the Buckeyes and dominated during his college days. He showed off excellent speed for his size and showed a consistent ability to get open with strong route-running abilities.
Harrison seems like a lock to be the first non-quarterback off the board in the 2024 NFL Draft, but an unlikely candidate could challenge him for the right to bet he draft’s No. 1 receiver: LSU’s Malik Nabers.
The 20-year-old breakout is earning buzz ahead of the draft, as both NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah and The Athletic’s Dane Brugler report that some teams have Nabers ahead of Harrison Jr. on their big boards, so seeing Nabers go first wouldn’t be a huge surprise.
100% true. Nabers has been viewed as WR1 for several teams since the season. And that says more about Nabers than anything else – he’s a special talent. https://t.co/QEQ2tqZDqs
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) March 18, 2024
Months ago, this may have sounded asinine, but with Harrison declining to participate in the NFL Combine and Pro Day circuit, it has created opportunities for Nabers to eke ever closer to him.
Harrison is still heavily favored to be the top receiver selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, but it isn’t as close to a lock as it once was. It’s easy to understand why teams are warming up to Nabers as the draft process continues. He’s young, fast, and produced in the toughest conference in college football.
Here’s how Harrison and Nabers compare to one another statistically and where each might be drafted.
MORE: Why Marvin Harrison isn’t working out at Ohio State’s Pro Day
Marvin Harrison Jr. vs. Malik Nabers stats
2023 college football season
Harrison and Nabers were among the NCAA’s most productive receivers in 2024, but it was actually Nabers who posted more catches and yardage on the campaign. He was healthier than Harrison and played one more game than him.
Each wideout caught 14 scores, tied for the third-most in the country behind LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr. (17) and Utah State’s Jalen Royals (15).
Below is a look at how Harrison and Nabers fared in their final college seasons.
| Stat | Malik Nabers | Marvin Harrison Jr. |
| Games | 13 | 12 |
| Catches | 89 | 67 |
| Yards | 1,569 | 1,211 |
| TDs | 14 | 14 |
| Yards per completion | 17.6 | 18.1 |
| PFF grade (rank) | 92.9 (1st) | 89.9 (8th) |
Nabers and Harrison Jr. were downfield threats, as evidenced by their yards-per-catch stats. Harrison’s 18.1 per game ranked 25th in the NCAA while Nabers’ 17.6 ranked 32nd.
Both receivers figure to carry over that success to the NFL, and that’s why each is in the running to be the first wideout selected in 2024.
Career stats
Nabers and Harrison had similar college careers in total. Each played 38 games, and while Harrison was an efficient pass-catcher and great scorer, Nabers outproduced him in terms of catches and yards.
Below is a look at how their careers compare to one another.
| Stat | Malik Nabers | Marvin Harrison Jr. |
| Games | 38 | 38 |
| Catches | 189 | 155 |
| Yards | 3,003 | 2,613 |
| TDs | 21 | 31 |
| Yards per completion | 15.9 | 16.8 |
Both receivers are explosive, play-making threats, so it’s easy to see why NFL teams will be eager to target them as they search for blue-chip players in the top 10.
NFL DRAFT: Top 125 big board | Mock draft, post-free agency edition
Marvin Harrison Jr. mock draft
The consensus remains that Harrison will be the first receiver off the board in the 2024 NFL Draft. It’s just a matter of when that might be.
Among notable mock drafts, no analyst has Harrison slipping past the No. 5 overall selection.
That will make it hard for Nabers to overtake him, but not impossible.
Malik Nabers mock draft
Harrison is in front of Nabers, but it isn’t by much. More often than not, Nabers slots into mock drafts just a pick after Harrison as the second non-quarterback off the board.
Below is a look at where he is going in notable mocks from around the Internet.
It won’t matter too much where Nabers and Harrison are drafted. Each has the talent needed to be a productive NFL player regardless of which team lands them.
The only thing that duo will be hoping is to land in a location with some security at quarterback.
