Bears Insider Discloses that the Team's Top Prospect Is Unlikely to be Chosen as the No. 1 Pick
Should the Chicago Bears retain the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, it appears unlikely that they will select wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., according to a statement from veteran Bears insider Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Biggs, who possesses deep insights into the team, recently shared his perspective on the Bears' plans for the top pick, which they acquired in a trade with the Carolina Panthers prior to last year's draft.
Biggs elaborated, "The Bears have a variety of options to consider at the No. 1 spot. They could opt for a quarterback, explore trade opportunities for additional assets, or make a conventional selection. In my assessment, it's improbable that they will remain at the top spot and choose Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr."
He added, "The last instance of a wide receiver being selected as the No. 1 overall pick was Keyshawn Johnson in 1996, with Irving Fryar in 1984 being the precedent before that. Historically, receivers are not typically chosen at the top of the draft, and given the abundance of talent in this year's receiver class, there may be no urgency to do so."
It's worth noting that Harrison, at 21 years old, is expected to be the first wide receiver drafted. However, Biggs raises a valid point about the rarity of wide receivers being chosen as the top overall pick in the NFL draft.
This is not to undermine Harrison's credentials as a promising prospect. Standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing 205 pounds, the Ohio State standout has consistently averaged 5.1 yards after the catch during his three seasons with the Buckeyes. He possesses the ability to impact the game from any position on the field. In the previous season, Harrison spent nearly 80% of his snaps as an outside receiver, with 19.4% of his snaps coming from the slot, according to Pro Football Focus. He has accumulated over 2,500 receiving yards and 28 touchdown catches over the past two seasons.
The most probable scenarios for the Bears involve their General Manager, Ryan Poles, either retaining the top pick and selecting a quarterback or following a strategy similar to the one employed in 2023, trading down to acquire more draft capital and securing a standout wide receiver like DJ Moore.
Biggs noted, "When the Bears traded away the No. 1 pick last year, it marked only the 13th instance since the NFL/AFL merger in 1967 that the top pick had been traded, and the second time since 2001. No team has traded the No. 1 pick in consecutive years."
However, it's worth considering other talented wide receivers in this draft class. LSU's Malik Nabers and Washington's Rome Odunze, both prolific in terms of receiving yards this season, are expected to make their mark in the NFL. Nabers, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound receiver, has accumulated over 2,500 yards and 27 touchdowns over the past two seasons at LSU. Odunze, who has played for the Washington Huskies for four years, boasts over 2,500 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns in his last two seasons.
Additionally, Florida State's Keon Coleman and Texas's Xavier Worthy have also declared for the draft, providing the Bears with a plethora of options if they decide not to select Marvin Harrison Jr.
| POLL | ||
3 JANVIER | 84 ANSWERS Bears Insider Discloses that the Team's Top Prospect Is Unlikely to be Chosen as the No. 1 Pick Should te Bears draft a WR in the first round of the draft? | ||
| yes | 72 | 85.7 % |
| no | 12 | 14.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
