While the NFL playoffs have commenced and the divisional round is coming this weekend, it is the offseason for 24 of the 32 teams and that means end-of-season awards and honors and grades.
ESPN put together its all-rookie team for the 2024 season and there was a notable absence from the first team.
Arizona Cardinal receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. did not make the first team.
The three receivers named to the first team were Brian Thomas of the Jacskonville Jaguars, Ladd McConkey of the Los Angeles Chargers and Malik Nabers of the New York Giants.
Their numbers for the season:
- Thomas: 87 catches, 1,282 yards, 10 TDs
- McConkey: 82 catches, 1,149 yards, 7 TDs
- Nabers: 109 catches, 1,204 yards, 7 TDs
Those are fantastic seasons.
What about Harrison?
- Harrison: 62 catches, 885 yards, 8 TDs
That is a fine rookie season, but as the No. 4 overall pick and first receiver taken, many see this as a disappointment.
While Harrison does not make the first team, he is on ESPN’s all-rookie second team, which is perfectly reasonable.
It wasn’t as productive a rookie campaign as many would have hoped, but he was playing with tight end Trey McBride, who had over 100 catches and nearly 1,200 yards himself.
Only one Cardinals rookie receiver has had a better season than Harrison (Anquan Boldin in 2003). Harrison not being part of the first team isn’t a snub. It makes sense.
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