NY Jets could pull off blockbuster draft-day trade to land star WR

The NY Jets are eyeing many of the top wide receivers in the 2024 NFL Draft, and one player who still feels like a pipedream is Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.

The son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison is widely seen as a top-five player in this year's draft class, with many expecting him to be off the board within the first four or five picks.

The Arizona Cardinals, who currently hold the No. 4 overall pick, are seen as the most likely destination for him, but that could change if the team decides to trade down, possibly with a team looking to move up for a quarterback.

That could present a scenario where Harrison falls to the fifth pick, and if that happens, the Jets could be one of the many teams looking to trade up to grab him.

That was the possibility hinted at by SNY's Connor Hughes on Thursday. Hughes insisted that if Harrison was still on the board at pick No. 5, there would be a host of teams calling the Los Angeles Chargers about a potential trade-up.

Would the NY Jets really trade up to draft Marvin Harrison Jr.?

Harrison is widely seen as one of the best wide receiver prospects to enter the NFL in years. At just 21 years old, Harrison has been named a Unanimous All-American in each of the last two seasons and was the winner of the Biletnikoff Award in 2023, given to the nation's top wide receiver.

At 6-foot-3, 209 pounds, Harrison has the physical traits, NFL-ready route running and polish, and college production that lead many to believe he's a lock to be a star at the next level. That's why few expect him to fall beyond the fourth or fifth pick.

The issue is quarterbacks always trump all in the NFL Draft. The likes of Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, and J.J. McCarthy are all seen as potential top-five picks, setting up a scenario where the first four selections in the draft are all quarterbacks.

If that happens and the Cardinals trade down with a quarterback-needy team (Giants, Vikings, Broncos, etc.), you will have teams flooding to the phones to call the Chargers about the fifth pick.

Of course, the Chargers could simply opt to take Harrison themselves, especially after moving on from Keenan Allen and new Jets wide receiver Mike Williams this offseason. They could receive a haul if they decide to trade back, however.

The Jets don't have the luxury of having significant draft capital to package in a trade-up, but with the team going all-in on the 2024 season, it's perhaps a route they could still consider. Harrison might just be worth it.