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Malik Nabers. SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network / USA TODAY NETWORK

NFL Draft countdown: Focus on Cardinals' first-round pick at No. 4

By Bruce Ewing | Last updated 4/21/24

The 2024 NFL Draft is rapidly approaching. The Colts drafted QB Anthony Richardson with the No. 4 pick in 2023. This year Arizona has the fourth selection with a chance to add a pretty good wide receiver.

Now that Marquise “Hollywood” Brown is with the Chiefs, Arizona needs a wide receiver. Michael Wilson and Greg Dortch have shown flashes, but these picks would upgrade the position.

Mel Kiper (ESPN): Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State

Playing it safe with three quarterbacks to start the draft, Kiper admits to doing the same at pick No. 4, but acknowledges Harrison has serious competition at the position.

“I know, I know, I've been chalk in these first four picks, but I just don't see Arizona passing on its chance to take the top wideout in the class. For me, that's Harrison, but Malik Nabers (LSU) and Rome Odunze (Washington) aren't far behind.”

He’s not wrong. Harrison caught 144 passes for 2,474 yards and 28 touchdowns in his last two seasons with Ohio State but Odunze (1,640) and Nabers (1,569) had more yards than Harrison (1,211) last year.

That doesn’t make them better players, but by opting out of the NFL Scouting Combine and Ohio State’s pro day, he might have left enough room for the other two to sneak past him.

Marvin Harrison Jr. hit the LeBron James silencer celebration after scoring the touchdown pic.twitter.com/STfiwU5BWI
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 7, 2023

Ryan Wilson (CBS Sports): Malik Nabers, WR, LSU

And that’s just what Wilson thinks will happen with Arizona’s No. 4 pick. He has Harrison dropping to the Giants at No. 6 after the Cardinals take Nabers.

“I've had Malik Nabers and Marvin Harrison Jr. closely graded throughout the draft process, but after Nabers' impressive pro-day numbers, I'm giving him the slightest of edges here. Both receivers are special.”

Nabers didn’t do much in his first two years as a Tiger but his 14 touchdowns tied for third-most in the FBS last season. He also averaged 17.6 yards per catch while earning first-team All-SEC honors which seems more impressive considering he shared the field with WR Brian Thomas Jr., who led the team with 17 scores last season.

Nate Davis (USA Today): Malik Nabers, WR, LSU

Davis also likes the fit with Nabers in Arizona but thinks the team can still get him with a move down the board. After a series of trades involving Chicago, Las Vegas and Washington, he has Arizona taking Nabers with the Bears’ No. 9 pick.

“In this hypothetical, the Cards have dropped from fourth to 13th before moving back up to get an elite receiver for QB Kyler Murray…while adding picks to the quiver. He ran in the 4.3 range at the Tigers’ pro day and could give the Cards their first bona fide No. 1 receiver since DeAndre Hopkins, maybe Larry Fitzgerald.”

According to Pro Football Focus, Nabers averaged 3.64 yards per route run in 2023, tops among receivers in the draft. He also forced 30 missed tackles. He’s the third wide receiver off the board in Davis’ scenario but it’s fair to think the team would be happy with any of the draft’s top receivers.

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