Chris Simms: “This is a really damn good football player and every bit worthy of this top 10, top 15 conversation, but I don’t think he is the physical beast or freak that the other two guys [Malik Nabers – LSU, Brian Thomas Jr. – LSU] are on the explosive aspect of the position. Speed, ability to get off the ball and accelerate, and get on top of DBs right away... It’s not bad, don’t get me wrong, he can do it, but he can’t do it at the consistency and the success level Nabers or Brian Thomas can.
Like Brian Thomas and Nabers -- if it’s man-to-man on a go-route, they’re going to run by the guy and it’s going to be a touchdown. Marvin Harrison has so much good, but stuff like that there were plenty of plays where it was like ‘he’s not going to get around this guy’, and he knows it; he’s not even going to try. His speed is not of that caliber. But it’s still good speed, and the size is awesome.
His ability to catch the ball and get up the field is really impressive. It’s seamless and he doesn’t waste a second. He’s got good size, and he plays with really good play-strength. He knows how to use his size to his advantage adjusting to balls, boxing people out, and shielding them out on go-routes. He wins almost every physical battle as far as 50/50 jump balls, or even DBs that are P.I.-ing him or holding him down the field. He fights through it and still gets open. He’s got tremendous body control.
I don’t think he’s as physically gifted at running routes as Brian Thomas. I don’t think he can explode, I don’t think he can break down, I don’t think he can cut at a precise level as Brian Thomas. As a route-runner that way, I like Brian Thomas more. But I do think Harrison is a better nuanced route-runner. He knows how to play with the DB according to how the defense is. He knows how to attack leverages and knows how to push the DB to the spot according to the route he’s running. He’s still got room to be a better route-runner. It’s the explosive ability, it’s the plays after the catch that are not on the same level as the other two guys with the ball in their hands.
I think a little bit is ‘name’. I’m a guy who is from a ‘name’, I understand it. I was number the number one recruit in high school coming out in college football. ‘Name’, the school he was at, the production he’s putting on the field; Ohio State puts out NFL receivers every year. I think the Draft community jumps on him because he’s a safe pick.
He’s awesome, but the other guys are special separation type wide receivers, and that was ultimately where I went. He’s a little over-ranked, it’s not his fault. When I hear ‘TOP 3 PLAYER IN THE DRAFT!’ or it’s Caleb Williams and then Marvin Harrison, I’m expecting to turn on the film and see Calvin Johnson, Randy Moss, Larry Fitzgerald, Julio Jones, or Ja’Marr Chase. With those guys, you turned it on and went ‘HE’S GONE.’
Much respect to Marvin Harrison, Jr., a heck of a football player, it’s not his fault that he was ranked this high, but I don’t think his explosiveness and freakishness ability is in the class of the other two guys.”
Watch NBC NFL analyst Chris Simms explain why he has Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. ranked as the no. 3 wide receiver on his board despite seemingly every mock draft, including Simms’ himself, penciling in Harrison Jr. as the first wideout drafted Thursday night.
Check out the segment above as Simms breaks down why Harrison Jr. is not on the same level as the LSU duo of Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr., adding that his father’s name and school’s reputation is playing a part in overrating Harrison Jr’s hype.
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