Mel Kiper Jr. on the top wide receiver in 2024 Draft: 'The debate rages on'

In an offensive-focused draft, the discussion around wide receivers is getting interesting with the clock starting in less than a month. That conversation won’t be stopping either according to Mel Kiper Jr. based on the top three pass-catcher on the board.

Kiper Jr. assessed the WR1 topic on ‘First Draft’ with Field Yates last week. He noted how the talk has shifted to Marvin Harrison Jr. of Ohio State versus Malik Nabers of LSU, even though Washington’s Rome Odunze is still very much up there to him. Still, regardless of how the trio shakes out, he thinks their three franchises are getting great receivers who each bring their own skillset to the table.

“You know, I think the debate rages on,” Kiper said. “I think in terms of even Odunze and Nabers because that is forgotten here. We act like it’s Nabers or Harrison. Odunze and Nabers was kind of a 50-50 split. Now, things change as you get closer to the draft, all the information is in. We get all of that but these three are all very highly regarded.”

“I think, you go back? We’ve had drafts like this – Michael Irvin draft, Timmy Brown draft, Sterling Sharpe, Jerry Rice. You think of all the receivers who were in those drafts, three of them in each one of those drafts. You could put them in a hat, pick one, and you’re not going to go wrong. Like, that’s the case with these three, really,” said Kiper. “It depends what you’re looking for. In Malik Nabers’ case? He is explosive, he did have a great year. There’s no question. He did put it all together this season. Odunze? He is silky smooth, he is reliable, he is consistent. He is the catch-radius guy, the contested-catch guy. Throw it up? He’ll go get it. Then, Marvin Harrison Jr., what’s not to like?”

Much of this shift as of late is due to Harrison Jr.’s handling of his pre-draft process in comparison to Nabers’ work in that area. Harrison only did so much of the process while Nabers has been impressing scouts and experts ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft.

However, while that may be the case, Kiper hopes no team just completely overlooks Harrison Jr. just because of how he and his camp personally chose to handled this.

“Marvin Harrison Jr.? I don’t care about all that stuff – ‘He didn’t do this’, ‘He didn’t do that’. Guess what? Adapt! Right? Adapt,” Kiper said. “Guys are going to say, after all this, I played a season, my body is beat up, I’m a little tired. I don’t want to participate in all this stuff, I don’t want to do a lot of stuff.”

At some point, it’s correct that the slimmest of margin separate these three and it all comes down to style of play. It certainly doesn’t come down to production as each of the trio put up major statistics. All three caught at least 67 passes, had at least 1,200 receiving yards, and scored at least 13 touchdowns. Combine the three and they averaged 82.7 receptions for 1,473.3 yards, good for 17.8 per catch, and 13.7 touchdowns.

That means that, come April 25th, it’s all likely going to come down to personal preference. That’s why Kiper Jr. isn’t setting anything as certain yet as each teams considers the three for the final times during the next month.

“I think you have to look at it and put it all in perspective,” Kiper said.