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Marvin Harrison Jr., Cardinals Agree to 4-year, $35.4M Contract After 2024 NFL Draft

Scott Polacek

The Arizona Cardinals officially have their new No. 1 wide receiver.

Arizona and rookie pass-catcher Marvin Harrison Jr. agreed to his rookie contract on Thursday:

ESPN's Field Yates noted Harrison is the highest-drafted rookie in this year's class to have signed his contract.

The Ohio State product was the No. 4 overall pick of the 2024 NFL draft and the first non-quarterback taken during the opening round. Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, Harrison's contract is worth $35.3 million with a $22.5 million signing bonus. The deal also includes a fifth-year option.

If Harrison lives up to expectations, there will surely be no hesitation from the Cardinals to exercise that option down the line.

He was the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year in his final season with the Buckeyes when he tallied 67 catches for 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns. He was slightly better from a statistical standpoint in 2022 with 77 catches for 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns.

The result was two consecutive All-American honors and the 2023 Fred Biletnikoff Award as the nation's best wide receiver.

Harrison was a familiar name to NFL fans even before he dominated at Ohio State since he is the son of Indianapolis Colts legend and Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison. The elder Harrison was a Super Bowl champion and eight-time Pro Bowler who was Peyton Manning's go-to option for years in Indianapolis.

That is quite the legacy to live up to, but Harrison Jr. is arguably the most talented rookie entering the NFL. B/R's NFL Scouting Department ranked him as the best overall player in the draft in its final big board, and he ended up in a situation where there will be no shortage of targets in Arizona.

Marquise Brown led all Cardinals wide receivers in receiving yards last season with 574, and he is now a member of the Kansas City Chiefs. Rondale Moore was third with 352, and he is now on the Atlanta Falcons.

The Cardinals needed an impact wide receiver in the draft, and they came away with a potentially dominant one who figures to be the No. 1 option for quarterback Kyler Murray throughout his rookie campaign.

And now Harrison can get to work fulfilling those expectations since he officially agreed to his first NFL deal.

   

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