The Impossible Might Be Unfolding For The Chicago Bears

Sometimes, good luck is needed for something crazy to happen in the NFL draft. Every year, it feels like a prospect that should have no business going outside the top five or ten ends up doing so. Sometimes, there are valid reasons. Jalen Carter went 9th because of serious character question marks. The same went for Laremy Tunsil a few years back when a video surfaced of him smoking weed. Other times, the only explanation is teams go carried away loving one prospect at the detriment of another. A good example is Micah Parsons, who somehow fell to 12th in 2021. The Chicago Bears might be seeing the same unfold with another seemingly no-brainer prospect this year.

That is Marvin Harrison Jr.

The superstar receiver out of Ohio State felt like the consensus #1 player in the entire 2024 draft by the end of last season. Hype had followed him for two years. Now things have gotten crazy. Not only is there a possibility he may not be the first non-quarterback off the board, but it's possible he may not even be the first wide receiver. Recent buzz from several prominent draft evaluators suggests LSU's Malik Nabers could carry that honor.

Harrison isn't doing himself any favors by boycotting the entire pre-draft process. Not only did he skip the scouting combine, but he plans to skip his pro day as well. Such actions, while not a big deal in the grand scheme, could rub a lot of teams the wrong way.

The door could be open for the Chicago Bears if this gets wild.

No, it doesn't mean Harrison falls to #9 overall. The possibility of that is astronomically low. However, it now feels like there is potential for him to slip somewhere in the 5-7 range. That would be perfect territory for GM Ryan Poles to trade up. Though the Bears don't have much draft capital to spend at this point, Harrison is the type of prospect who is worth the price tag. Ignore the pre-draft nonsense. This kid is a ready-made star. He's big, strong, a precise route-runner, and has been schooled by his Hall of Fame father.

Would you give up the Bears' future 2nd round pick in 2025 for a chance to land Harrison? You should. Imagine the trio of him, D.J. Moore, and Keenan Allen. Defenses wouldn't have any answers for that. Caleb Williams or whoever the Bears draft at #1 would be in a premium position to have success right away. All they need is for four quarterbacks to go in the top five and the other team to take Nabers. If that happens, it opens the door for Chicago to maybe pull off an all-time stunner.