The consensus entering the 2024 NFL Draft was that the Cardinals had luck on their side.
Three quarterback-needy teams picked ahead of Arizona, leaving the Cardinals — already set at the position with a franchise quarterback — free to take the best non-quarterback available. In their eyes, that was Ohio State wideout Marvin Harrison Jr.
Arizona envisioned an upgraded offense built around Murray throwing to Harrison and Trey McBride for years to come. But if the ultimate goal is winning playoff games with that trio, the Cardinals still have a long road ahead.
Here’s a look at every wide receiver drafted after Harrison as the former Buckeye star continues searching for his breakthrough moment.
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2024 NFL Draft WRs
Malik Nabers
- Round: 1
- Pick: No. 6
- Team: New York Giants
- School: LSU
Malik Nabers was a step ahead of Harrison in their rookie seasons. Even in a completely broken offense, Nabers put up 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns, consistently showcasing his big-play ability and demanding the ball when it wasn't coming his way. Harrison was supposed to be the prize of the 2024 wide receiver class, but the Giants have to be satisfied with how it all shook out,
Rome Odunze
- Round: 1
- Pick: No. 9
- Team: Chicago Bears
- School: Washington
The Bears were thrilled to pair Rome Odunze with Caleb Williams, matching two of college football's biggest stars. Odunze became a focal point of Chicago's offense.
Brian Thomas Jr.
- Round: 1
- Pick: No. 23
- Team: Jacksonville Jaguars
- School: LSU
One half of a ridiculous LSU duo with Nabers, Brian Thomas Jr. enjoyed an outstanding rookie season in Jacksonville with 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns even as the Jaguars' offense hit plenty of bumps.
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Xavier Worthy
- Round: 1
- Pick: No. 28
- Team: Kansas City Chiefs
- School: Texas
Xavier Worthy lit up the NFL Combine with a record 4.21-second 40-yard dash, but questions persisted about his chances to land in the first round. The Chiefs removed all doubt, pairing Worthy with Rashee Rice and trying to harken back to the Tyreek Hill era with the speedster.
Ricky Pearsall
- Round: 1
- Pick: No. 31
- Team: San Francisco 49ers
- School: Florida
Ricky Pearsall was a surprise first-round pick by a 49ers team dealing with questions about the futures of Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel, and his NFL debut was delayed after he was terrifyingly shot during an attempted robbery just days before his rookie season. After starting to come into his own late in his rookie season, Pearsall became a central piece of San Francisco's offense.
Xavier Legette
- Round: 1
- Pick: No. 32
- Team: Carolina Panthers
- School: South Carolina
The Panthers extended the run on wide receivers by keeping South Carolina's Xavier Legette in the Carolinas at No. 32 overall, and Legette's sense of humor and deep accent quickly made him one of the most popular players on the roster. In terms of production.
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Keon Coleman
- Round: 2
- Pick: No. 33
- Team: Buffalo Bills
- School: Florida State
Keon Coleman attracted plenty of attention after the 2024 draft for his hilarious soundbites, but he flashed some of the talent that made him the top pick of the second round as a rookie.
Ladd McConkey
- Round: 2
- Pick: No. 34
- Team: Los Angeles Chargers
- School: Georgia
Ladd McConkey was a savior for the Chargers' offense as a rookie, putting together an efficient 1,000-yard season and giving Justin Herbert a much-needed reliable target after the trade of veteran Keenan Allen.
Ja'Lynn Polk
- Round: 2
- Pick: No. 37
- Team: New England Patriots
- School: Washington
Ja'Lynn Polk was part of a loaded Washington receiving corps with Odunze and Jalen McMillan, but he simply did not work out in New England, struggling to make any kind of impact despite seemingly having a clear path to targets.
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Adonai Mitchell
- Round: 2
- Pick: No. 52
- Team: Indianapolis Colts
- School: Texas
Once considered a potential first-round pick, Adonai Mitchell slipped to the Colts deep into the second round and made it clear he would remember those who passed on him.
Malachi Corley
- Round: 3
- Pick: No. 65
- Team: New York Jets
- School: Western Kentucky
The Jets celebrated their third-round selection of Western Kentucky's Malachi Corley with glee, as texts between Robert Saleh and Joe Douglas revealed the regime planned to select him "no matter what," but by the following August, Saleh and Douglas were both fired and Corley was waived. Corley's only memorable moment as a Jet was a gaffe in which he dropped the ball before reaching the end zone, turning a walk-in touchdown into a fumble.
Jermaine Burton
- Round: 3
- Pick: No. 80
- Team: Cincinnati Bengals
- School: Alabama
Burton was viewed as a potential first-round talent with serious attitude concerns, and those attitude concerns proved to be much bigger than his talent in year one. Burton largely stayed off the field as Zac Taylor and Joe Burrow were forced to answer questions about his commitment to the team.
Roman Wilson
- Round: 3
- Pick: No. 84
- Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
- School: Michigan
One of the rare Michigan players not to reunite with Jim Harbaugh in Los Angeles, Roman Wilson joined the Steelers after winning a national championship in maize and blue but could not make much of an impact as a rookie.
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Jalen McMillan
- Round: 3
- Pick: No. 92
- Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- School: Washington
The third Washington receiver selected in the first three rounds, Jalen McMillan walked into a wide receiver room featuring Mike Evans and Chris Godwin when he was paired with Baker Mayfield.
Luke McCaffrey
- Round: 3
- Pick: No. 100
- Team: Washington Commanders
- School: Rice
The Commanders made Christian McCaffrey's brother, Luke, a late third-round pick out of Rice, adding his skillset rather than stopping the falls of Troy Franklin or Devontez Walker.
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Troy Franklin
- Round: 4
- Pick: No. 102
- Team: Denver Broncos
- School: Oregon
Troy Franklin was once considered a potential first-round prospect, so his fall to the fourth round was fairly shocking, but the fit was ideal with former Oregon teammate Bo Nix also selected by the Broncos.
Javon Baker
- Round: 4
- Pick: No. 110
- Team: New England Patriots
- School: UCF
Much like Polk, Javon Baker was brought into a barren receiver room in New England but struggled to make any kind of impact during his brief time with the Patriots.
Devontez Walker
- Round: 4
- Pick: No. 113
- Team: Baltimore Ravens
- School: North Carolina
Devontez Walker was seen as a high-risk, high-reward selection by the Ravens after a college career marred by injury and an eligibility battle. Baltimore still expects Walker to make an impact after a quiet rookie season mostly spent off the field.
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Jacob Cowing
- Round: 4
- Pick: No. 135
- Team: San Francisco 49ers
- School: Arizona
Jacob Cowing put together a pair of productive seasons at Arizona after transferring from UTEP, and he became the second receiver drafted by the 49ers deep into the fourth round in 2024.
Anthony Gould
- Round: 5
- Pick: No. 142
- Team: Indianapolis Colts
- School: Oregon State
The Colts made Anthony Gould an early fifth-round pick after a career-best season at Oregon State.
Ainias Smith
- Round: 5
- Pick: No. 152
- Team: Philadelphia Eagles
- School: Texas A&M
Facing a lack of receiving depth behind stars A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, the Eagles took a flier on a gadget-type receiver in Texas A&M's Ainias Smith in the fifth round.
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Jamari Thrash
- Round: 5
- Pick: No. 156
- Team: Cleveland Browns
- School: Louisville
Louisville's Jamari Thrash only made a minimal impact as a rookie after the Browns selected him No. 156 overall in 2024.
Bub Means
- Round: 5
- Pick: No. 170
- Team: New Orleans Saints
- School: Pittsburgh
With Chris Olave battling injuries, Bub Means found an early path to targets in New Orleans despite being a fifth-round pick out of Pittsburgh.
Jha'Quan Jackson
- Round: 6
- Pick: No. 182
- Team: Tennessee Titans
- School: Tulane
Jackson operated primarily as a returner in his only season with the Titans after being drafted out of Tulane.
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Malik Washington
- Round: 6
- Pick: No. 184
- Team: Miami Dolphins
- School: Virginia
The Dolphins found a useful returner in Virginia's Malik Washington, who enjoyed a stellar final season in Miami.
Johnny Wilson
- Round: 6
- Pick: No. 185
- Team: Philadelphia Eagles
- School: Florida State
A massive target, Johnny Wilson joined the Eagles after shining with Jordan Travis as his quarterback at Florida State.
Casey Washington
- Round: 6
- Pick: No. 187
- Team: Atlanta Falcons
- School: Illinois
The Falcons selected Casey Washington in the sixth round after a five-year career at Illinois.
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Tejhaun Palmer
- Round: 6
- Pick: No. 191
- Team: Arizona Cardinals
- School: UAB
Tejhaun Palmer never appeared in a game with Marvin Harrison Jr. and the Cardinals after being drafted No. 191 overall out of UAB.
Jordan Whittington
- Round: 6
- Pick: No. 213
- Team: Los Angeles Rams
- School: Texas
A year after the Rams found a late-round gem in Puka Nacua, they got some immediate production out of sixth-round WR Jordan Whittington.
Ryan Flournoy
- Round: 6
- Pick: No. 216
- Team: Dallas Cowboys
- School: SE Missouri State
Ryan Flournoy was a small-school favorite of draft analysts who value athletic scores, and the Cowboys saw enough value in those numbers to take a chance on him deep into the sixth round.
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Brenden Rice
- Round: 7
- Pick: No. 225
- Team: Los Angeles Chargers
- School: USC
The Chargers took a flier on the son of Jerry Rice, selecting former USC and Colorado WR Brenden Rice in the seventh round.
Devaughn Vele
- Round: 7
- Pick: No. 235
- Team: Denver Broncos
- School: Utah
One of the oldest players drafted, Devaughn Vele was thrust into an immediate role with the Broncos before an offseason trade to the Saints in 2025.
Tahj Washington
- Round: 7
- Pick: No. 241
- Team: Miami Dolphins
- School: USC
The Dolphins added their second Day 3 receiver of the draft when they took a flier on USC's Tahj Washington, who also became the second USC pass-catcher taken in the seventh round.
Cornelius Johnson
- Round: 7
- Pick: No. 253
- Team: Los Angeles Chargers
- School: Michigan
A national champion at Michigan, Cornelius Johnson reunited with college coach Jim Harbaugh when the Chargers made him one of the final picks of the 2024 draft.