NFL DRAFT: Harrison goes No. 4 to Cardinals

DETROIT — The Arizona Cardinals selected receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. with the No. 4 overall pick in the NFL draft on Thursday night, hoping the Ohio State star can be the team's leading playmaker for quarterback Kyler Murray. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Harrison has drawn comparisons to Larry Fitzgerald, who was arguably the greatest player in the team's history after amassing more than 17,000 yards receiving over 17 seasons before retiring in 2020. Harrison also has an impressive bloodline. He's the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison, though considerably bigger than his dad, possessing a rare combination of size, speed and athleticism. He caught 67 passes for 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns in his final season with the Buckeyes. Arizona was in a prime position to get one of the draft's top non-quarterbacks. The teams with the top three picks all needed QBs, but the Cardinals are set at the position with Murray, who has a $230.5 million, five-year deal that could keep him in Arizona through 2028. It was the first pick of a vital draft for the Cardinals, who have 10 more picks over the next three days, including the No. 27 overall selection later Thursday. Arizona's had a 4-13 record in each of the past two seasons. Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort chose to use the No. 4 pick instead of trading down for potentially more selections. It was a different strategy from his first season with the club, when the Cardinals started with the No. 3 overall selection but made multiple trades on draft night before settling on the No. 6 pick, which was used to select offensive lineman Paris Johnson Jr. Johnson started all 17 games at right tackle last season. Harrison should also have an immediate impact, especially considering the Cardinals lack of elite receivers. Tight end Trey McBride had a breakout season in 2023 with 825 yards receiving and three touchdowns. Michael Wilson also had an encouraging rookie season with 565 yards receiving. But the No. 1 receiver spot is up for grabs and the Cardinals certainly hope Harrison can seize it. QBs go with first three picks Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades. The Bears selected Williams with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft on Thursday night after deciding weeks ago to bank on the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner from USC. The Washington Commanders followed up by taking 2023 Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels from LSU and the New England Patriots took North Carolina's Drake Maye at No. 3, making it the fourth draft with quarterbacks going with the first three picks. It matched 2021 (Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, Trey Lance), 1971 (Jim Plunkett, Archie Manning, Dan Pastorini) and 1999 (Tim Couch, Donovan McNabb, Akili Smith). Wearing a navy suit with silver accents, Williams swiftly walked on stage and screamed "Woooo! Yeah!" before giving Roger Goodell a bear hug, careful not to squeeze too hard because the NFL commissioner had back surgery three weeks ago. Williams is the third quarterback Chicago has selected in the first round in the past eight years. Mitch Trubisky, the No. 2 overall pick in 2017, lasted four seasons. Justin Fields, the 11th pick in 2021, was traded away for a conditional sixth-round pick after three seasons. The 22-year-old Williams is tasked with turning the Bears into a winner after years of futility. Chicago has had just two winning seasons since its most recent playoff victory in the 2010 season. Williams was the clear front-runner in a quarterback-rich draft that includes Daniels, Maye and J.J. McCarthy. The Bears didn't meet with any other QBs and Williams didn't visit any other teams. He impressed his future team over dinner with several Bears players last month, showing them he's more substance than Hollywood style. "It was good for them to be able to go back to the (front office) and speak on how I am instead of all the stuff that everybody sees every day on me," Williams said Wednesday. Williams has lofty goals. He's talked about playing 20 years for one team and chasing Tom Brady's record of seven Super Bowl titles. The Bears only have won it once following the 1985 season. A dual-threat player with a strong arm and ability to improvise, Williams threw 93 touchdown passes and ran for 27 scores in three seasons at Oklahoma and USC. The Bears are the only NFL franchise that hasn't had a quarterback throw for 4,000 yards or 30 touchdowns in a season. They passed up on Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud last year and traded the No. 1 pick to Carolina in a blockbuster deal only to get the top choice this year after the Panthers went 2-15. The 23-year-old Daniels, who played five seasons at Arizona State, gives the Commanders a potential franchise QB after leading the nation in total offense last season with 4,946 yards. A do-it-all player, Daniels ranked fifth with 3,812 yards passing and with 40 touchdowns. Maye is the second QB the Patriots have selected in the first round since Tom Brady left the team after the 2019 season. Mac Jones didn't work out and now it's Maye's turn to be the man in a new era that starts without Bill Belichick.