Wide Receiver Needy Cardinals Will Consider Passing On Top WR Prospect Marvin Harrison Jr.
The Arizona Cardinals are willing to trade the No. 4 overall pick in next month's NFL draft, as the rumor they are open for business was confirmed by no less than general manager Monti Ossenfort on Wednesday.
"There will be a big neon sign that says 'open,'" Ossenfort joked with reporters. "I don't like it blinking, it messes with my eyes, but we're always going to be listening. I think we'll always have the conversation. We may not get to a point where a deal makes sense, whether it's at [No.] 4 or anywhere we're picking.
"But we're always going to have the conversation and if it makes sense, if it's attractive to building our team, then it's something that we'll certainly consider no matter where we're at in the draft."
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 28: General manager Monti Ossenfort of the Arizona Cardinals speaks to the media during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on February 28, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Cardinals Open To Making A Deal
The Cardinals have entered that consideration stage because much of their information gathering on draft prospects is done and they're already working on their draft board.
So let's be clear what the Cardinals would actually be considering if they make a trade down from No. 4:
If the Cardinals trade back they are basically telling the entire Earth they're willing to bypass the addition of Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and might actually be comfortable picking the third or perhaps even fourth-best pass-catching prospect in the draft.
Said another way, the team with an obvious and weighty need at receiver is telling the rest of the NFL it is willing to pass on perhaps the most talented receiver prospect in the draft for the right price.
I'm sure quarterback Kyler Murray is excited about that.
So why would a trade back have such a potentially profound effect on Arizona's choice?
PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 31: Kyler Murray #1 celebrates with Arizona Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort following the win against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on December 31, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)
Multiple Teams Need WRs
Let's understand that whatever team is trading up to the No. 4 pick is probably doing that to select a quarterback. Quarterbacks are expected to go in some order with the first three picks claiming USC's Caleb Williams, LSU's Jayden Daniels and North Carolina's Drake Maye.
But a team needing a quarterback could move to No. 4 to perhaps select Michigan's J.J. McCarthy.
The most obvious candidate to do that is the Minnesota Vikings, who recently gathered multiple first-round picks, seemingly showing intentions to move up for a quarterback.
If the Cardinals trade back to Minnesota's No. 11 overall slot there is zero chance they get Harrison. Even if they trade back a few slots, there's a question Harrison will still be available.
Consider the teams behind the Cardinals now:
The Chargers are at No. 5 overall. And there's no telling what new coach Jim Harbaugh might want to do, but the club this offseason traded Keenan Allen to the Bears and released Mike Williams. The Chargers have a major need at wide receiver.
The Giants are at No. 6 and they could plausibly look to more urgent needs. But a club with Darius Slayton (never had a 1,000 yard season), Wan'Dale Robinson (still uproven after only 11 starts), and Jalin Hyatt (solid, not great rookie season in 2023) could use a bigtime playmaker on the outside.
The Bears, picking No. 9 after using their No. 1 overall pick on Williams, might be tempted to add some more weapons for Williams on the outside in what is supposed to be a very good receiver class.
Eventually, after teams with other needs come along, the No. 11 pick which the Vikings are looking to move up from, comes with an uncertain ability to add a top 3 receiver prospect.
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 25: Marvin Harrison Jr. #18 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs with the ball for a touchdown during the second half of a college football game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on November 25, 2023 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Michigan Wolverines won the game 30-24 to win the Big Ten East. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)
Say Good-Bye To Marvin Harrison
That's what the Cardinals have to weigh in considering trade options. The idea of adding multiple first-rounders in exchange for their No. 4 pick sounds enticing in the abstract.
But it comes with downside, too. And it is downside the starting quarterback might not love.
And yet, Arizona will consider all possibilities. Ossenfort is going to talk to potential trade partners at next week's spring NFL meeting in Orlando. And he'll take calls all the way up until draft night.
"I’d say those phone calls are starting to pick up a little bit," he said. "I would say they’ll probably continue into next week when we go down to Florida for the owners’ meetings. I think most teams are in a similar spot to us, starting to finalize their boards, and the pro day pieces are the final on-field pieces for evaluation purposes.
"So I would imagine some of those conversations will continue to pick up, but honestly they probably will not get real serious until we get right up until the week of the draft, similar to last year. They have definitely picked up, but I would expect that to continue here for the next month."