Marvin Harrison Jr. was publicly spotted on a football field Wednesday in a rare occurrence leading up to the 2024 NFL Draft.
Harrison explained the rationale behind his unprecedented pre-draft process — bypassing specialized athletic training and not participating in testing at the NFL Scouting Combine or Ohio State’s Pro Day — during an appearance at the “Play Football” event with the Special Olympics in Detroit.
Following the lead of stars like Lamar Jackson, Harrison did not hire an agent.
He and his father, Hall of Fame receiver Marvin Harrison, kept most of his facility visits and private workouts under wraps, though it is believed that he was at Giants headquarters.
“Just talking to my dad, we decided what’s best for us — to prepare for the NFL season, not prepare for the combine or Pro Day or anything like that,” the 21-year-old Harrison told NFL.com. “So, take our time to do our due diligence. Also resting after the season, getting your body right. … We trained to play football instead.”
Harrison’s once-firm grasp on being the No. 1 receiver selected Thursday night appears to be slipping.
Some teams reportedly have a higher grade on Malik Nabers, who dazzled at LSU’s Pro Day.
“That’s not why I decided to not do anything, because I was confident where I was going,” Harrison said. “Whatever happens, whoever drafts me, I think they’ve done their research and I’ve talked to them. They understand where my health is, and they know my skills.”
One NFL scout told The Post that Harrison “had nothing to prove” after his record-setting college career and still should be “the first” receiver taken.
Harrison told SNY that his meetings with the Giants and Jets “both went great.”
The Jets almost certainly would have to trade up from No. 10 to land Harrison as a weapon for Aaron Rodgers and try to recreate some of the magic that the elder Harrison once had with Peyton Manning.
“He’s one of the best quarterbacks to probably ever play the game,” Harrison said, “so it definitely would be an honor for me.”
QB Jayden Daniels told reporters in Detroit that he is “100 percent” willing to play for the Commanders — shutting down reports that he might not want to go No. 2.
Daniels played at Arizona State before LSU, and Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce was on the Sun Devils’ staff at the time, but the quarterback-needy Raiders don’t pick until No. 13.
The Cardinals, Packers and Rams each have a league-high 11 picks in the 257-pick draft, while the Bears have a league-low four (two of the first nine).
The Panthers, Browns and Texans do not have a first-rounder.
Of those three, the Panthers, who hold No. 33 and No. 39, are most likely to trade back into the first round, multiple league sources agreed.
On the eve of the draft, the Lions reminded the league what a home-run class looks like.
Receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and right tackle Penei Sewell both signed fourth-year contract extensions worth a total of $232 million, including $165 million guaranteed.
St. Brown’s $77 million guaranteed is the new record at the position.
In 2021, Sewell was Detroit’s first-round pick (No. 7 overall) — 105 picks ahead of the fourth-rounder St. Brown.
Georgia set the single-school seven-round record with 15 players drafted in 2022.
Michigan could break that record over the next three days, with some forecasts calling for as many as 20.
Of course, it helps that former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh is now leading the Chargers and could want to reunite with some of his former recruits.
