GM explains why Cardinals didn't trade Marvin Harrison Jr. draft pick

Arizona Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort spoke during a news conference about why he didn't trade the fourth pick of the 2024 NFL Draft and instead used that asset to land Ohio State Buckeyes star wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. on Thursday night. 

"I think, really, we were prepared to pick and we were prepared to pick Marvin at four," Ossenfort said, as shared by Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. "Really there was no trade that came that was going to get us off that pick. If somebody would’ve [come] and offered us something that would’ve been the best thing for the team, we certainly would’ve done it. Ultimately, we felt the best tonight about sticking with Marvin at number four."

Arizona was mentioned as a possible draft-day trade candidate both before and after quarterbacks Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye became the first three players selected on Thursday night. 

Some suggested that a team such as the New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos or Las Vegas Raiders could move up to pick No. 4 to select Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy.

It is, of course, now known that the Vikings only had to move up from choice No. 11 to No. 10 for McCarthy after the Atlanta Falcons grabbed Washington Huskies signal-caller Michael Penix Jr. via the eighth pick. Thus, it makes sense Ossenfort went with his best player available at No. 4. 

Some members of the football community criticized Harrison this spring after he declined to participate in the NFL Scouting Combine and pro day workouts. Ossenfort revealed he "felt pretty convicted about who Marvin was" following the player's predraft visit with the club. 

"To me, that was a big day for me just as we went through the process of figuring out who we were going to pick at No. 4," Ossenfort added. "Really, it just goes back to the way he handled himself, the way he conducted himself and the way he had prepared at Ohio State. Really, it was the full package. That day was huge for us and really huge for me personally in just getting to spend that time with him and him getting that time with the rest of our staff."

Quarterback Kyler Murray essentially campaigned for the Cardinals to draft a playmaker such as Harrison and then celebrated the move on Thursday. 

As of Friday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook listed Harrison second among the betting favorites at +600 odds to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award for the upcoming season.