Ask Odegard: Gut Feeling Between Marvin Harrison Jr. and a Trade Down?

The NFL draft is slooowlllyyy getttttiiiinnngggg cloooooserrrr.

But it’s still three weeks away. So the speculation continues.

“What do you think the cardinals do with the 4th overall pick? (Personal opinion)” – BigMekk

“What is your gut feeling the Cardinals do at 4? Draft Marv or trade down?” – AMNFL_ANdy

Kyle Odegard: Let me look into my crystal ball. And let me wipe it down a little bit because all of this smoke that is screening the answer.

When all is said and done, and the Cardinals turn in their card on the first day of the draft, I think they will select Marvin Harrison, Jr.

Is trading down enticing? Yes, especially if the Vikings offer three first-rounders.

But we are talking about a potentially generational wideout who is the best non-quarterback prospect in the draft.

That’s a big deal, because if the QB class wasn’t this good, the Cardinals would not have had a shot at MHJ. You look at what Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase did as rookies, and it’s clear that Harrison, Jr. can be a difference-making star from the jump.

If the Cardinals didn’t have a star quarterback, then the prudent thing would be to trade back and continue to accumulate assets. But they do, so it’s time to push ahead.

This roster still has holes, but star power can make up for it. 

If Kyler, Trey McBride and MHJ live up to the billing, the offense can find its footing quickly and bring the Cardinals back to long-awaited contention. 

Two extra first-rounders aren’t going to sway Ossenfort in the end.

“Cost-benefit of the Cardinals investing a Round 2, 3, 4 pick on a Running Back to replace James Conner this year versus missing on the opportunity to grab a possible contributor at a more needed position elsewhere, in your opinion?” – Blake Allen Murphy

KO: If we start dropping into Round 4, maybe you can talk me into it, but there is zero reason to spend a Day 2 pick on a running back.

James Conner may well need a replacement after this season, but I hope we are past the days of a Cardinals GM spending outsized resources on arguably the most replaceable position in the league. 

“Waffles or pancakes?” – Donnie Druin

KO: Waffles, though I’m not a huge fan of either. Gimme a breakfast burrito.

“Why do you think Malik Nabers is graded higher than Marvin Harrison on NFLs grades? Nabers is 6.86, Marv is 6.83.” – Kasper V Gade

KO: I believe Lance Zierlein does those grades, so it’s just a personal preference. There has been plenty of chatter about Nabers being the No. 1 receiver on some boards, but I’d be shocked if he actually goes ahead of MHJ.

“If a hypothetical former employer were going to sling mud at a hypothetical sports and betting writer, resulting in a windfall of damages for said writer, what might those unseemly accusations entail? My best guess, is he incessantly asks his pets "Who's a good boy?" – Jokomo13

KO: Anything. Literally anything. Please start spreading said rumors. I could really use $3 million, and have no problem getting my reputation dragged through the mud for it. Please send a statement out about me, Michael Bidwill!

“As having the lowest rating for our WR group. Why wouldn’t we want to draft Marv to have a play maker? We already have enough picks.” – Tony F

KO: No such thing as too many premium draft picks, but you do bring up a good point. Beyond all the speculation, we need to take just one quick glance at the depth chart to realize the Cardinals have a bottom-tier wide receiver core.

It is set up perfectly to take Marv.

“Get the limo ready for Monti if he trades back?” -- PRETTYMAMl_

KO: Sheesh. Tough crowd haha. Ossenfort has done a terrific job thus far and deserves the benefit of the doubt. If he gets three first-rounders in a trade down, it wouldn’t be the most fan-friendly decision, but there would certainly be some sense to it.

“What do you, Kyle as a fan of the Cardinals, want the Cardinals to do in the first round of the draft?” – Vony Duncan

KO: Draft Marvelous Marv and get an edge rusher at 27.

“Now that the arbitration is settled will nfl penalize the Cards with pick loss for this years draft? If so prediction. On what it would be ?” – greatscott 172

KO: Doubt it. The $3 million judgment was for defamation of character. It’s a terrible look for an owner and organization to make those accusations without proof, and it says a lot about Michael Bidwill that he decided to go scorched earth like that, but I don’t see how it will affect any draft picks.

Unless the NFL cracks down on the burner phone usage, but I’m not holding my breath.

“Is there any moves Monti could make this draft that would waiver your faith in him?” – Tucker Powell

KO: He could obviously do something wild like trade down from 4 for only 11 and 23, and that would certainly have me waver. But realistically, he is going to make by-the-book decisions, and the ones I disagree with will just be a matter of preference.

He deserves the benefit of the doubt right now because, while I may have quibbled with signing someone like Justin Jones for $10 million per year, Ossenfort has yet to do anything egregious.

“If the Cardinals do trade back with the Vikings what you think we get in return?” – dbooksuns

KO: The minimum return has to be 11, 23 and the 2025 first-rounder. It may even take a sweetener to get it done if the Cardinals love Marvin Harrison, Jr. as much as well all believe,

“If you had to guess Kyle, where you see the top 3 receivers landing in the upcoming draft?” – cardinals

KO: Marvin Harrison, Jr. with the Cardinals, Malik Nabers with the Giants and Rome Odunze with the Bears.

“Would you use the descriptive words cockamamie, malarkey, hogwash or something else when strongly disagreeing on someone’s thought?” Ed Helinski

KO: I’d go with inane, rubbish and ludicrous myself.

“If a top tier WR is drafted by the AZCards should we expect a Rookie of the Year award and a MVP award? Both these awards spell playoff implications” – La Ocho BBQ

KO: Rookie of the Year is definitely in the cards. Marvin Harrison, Jr. wouldn’t be the favorite to open the year – that honor would go to Caleb Williams – but he would be right in that mix with Kyler Murray throwing to him. 

MVP is tougher, obviously, but if Kyler is in the running for that then expectations will be higher than the playoffs. Think Super Bowl.

“What kind of utopia would Cards Twitter be if the fans cared about OLine 25% as much as they care about WRs.” – Honey Bucket Hero

KO: It’s the nature of the beast, no? I actually think there has been progress in the past decade or so in giving offensive linemen their due. But yeah, Marvin Harrison, Jr. is always going to get people more excited than Joe Alt.

The good thing for you is that the Arizona brass seems to have every intention of beefing up the offensive line. So maybe it will be the best of both worlds: while others enjoy watching Marvin Harrison, Jr. come down with the latest ridiculous bomb from Kyler, you can nod in approval at the job done by Will Hernandez picking up a stunt.

“Can we bring keim back?” – weter

KO: I thought Loch Ness Monster sightings were rare, but wow, look at this: a Steve Keim fan in the wild.