Ohio State NFL draft prospects top landing spots: Projections for Marvin Harrison, others

NFL draft week has arrived.

Starting Thursday in Detroit, former Ohio State football players will find out which NFL team they will play for in the fall.

The first round of the NFL draft starts Thursday at 8 p.m. Rounds 2 and 3 will begin Friday at 7 p.m., while Rounds 4-7 will start at noon Saturday. The draft will air on ESPN, ABC and NFL Network.

Here's a look at where Ohio State prospects could land in the 2024 NFL draft.

WR Marvin Harrison Jr. NFL draft projection

Most NFL mock drafts have Harrison as the first non-quarterback off the board Thursday after Southern California quarterback Caleb Williams, LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels, North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye and, possibly, Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy.

As the fourth or fifth overall pick in the draft, Harrison is widely expected to land with the Arizona Cardinals or the Los Angeles Chargers. Harrison is expected to be Ohio State's highest-drafted wide receiver in program history ahead of Terry Glenn (No. 7 in 1996), David Boston (No. 8 in 1999), Ted Ginn Jr. (No. 9 in 2007), Garrett Wilson (No. 10 in 2022) and Chris Olave (No. 11 in 2022).

Harrison, a former All-American, Biletnikoff Award winner and Heisman Trophy finalist, finished his collegiate career with 2,613 receiving yards and 32 touchdowns. He is the only Ohio State receiver to have back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.

DT Mike Hall Jr. NFL draft projection

After three seasons with Ohio State, defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. could find his NFL home as early as the second round.

Hall, a 6-foot-3, 290-pound interior lineman, spent three seasons with the Buckeyes and recorded 45 tackles, 10 tackles-for-loss and 6 sacks. He was a third-team All-Big Ten player in 2023.

A dominant Senior Bowl performance has seemingly moved Hall up the draft boards, putting him behind defensive tackles such as Texas' Byron Murphy II and Illinois' Jer'Zhan Newton. Hall is expected to be off the board in the second or third round by teams like the Los Angeles Rams or the Atlanta Falcons with the possibility of following in the footsteps of former Ohio State defensive tackle Cameron Heyward with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

TE Cade Stover NFL draft projection

After one of the most productive seasons as a tight end in Ohio State history, Cade Stover is expected to find a home within the four rounds of the 2024 NFL draft.

Stover, a 6-foot-4, 247-pound converted linebacker, finished with 576 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 41 catches: the most by an OSU tight end since John Frank in 1983. Stover finished his final collegiate season as the Big Ten's Kwalick-Clark Tight End of the Year. He left Ohio State with 82 catches for 1,058 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Stover is viewed by many as the third-best tight end prospect in the 2024 class behind Georgia's Brock Bowers and Texas' Ja'Tavion Sanders. Expect Stover to be selected anywhere from the middle of the third round by a team like the Washington Commanders, to the middle of the fourth round by a team like the Denver Broncos.

LB Tommy Eichenberg NFL draft projection

Tommy Eichenberg made his presence felt in the middle of Ohio State's defense.

The three-year starting linebacker and a two-time captain finished his career with 268 tackles, 21 tackles-for-loss and 3.5 sacks. He was named first-team All-Big Ten and as the conference's Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year. Nationally, he was a second-team All-American by the Football Writers Association of America, Sports Illustrated and Phil Steele, and was a semifinalist for the Butkus Award.

After five seasons with the Buckeyes, expect Eichenberg to be one of the first 10 linebackers selected in the NFL draft after players such as NC State's Payton Wilson and Texas A&M's Edgerrin Cooper. Eichenberg is expected to be a mid-to-late fourth-round selection, and could be selected by teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Jets or the Arizona Cardinals, which also could take Harrison.

S Josh Proctor NFL draft projection

Josh Proctor saved his best season for last.

The former four-star safety in the 2018 recruiting class finished his collegiate season at Ohio State with 47 tackles, 4 tackles-for-loss and an interception along with 8 pass deflections. The 6-foot-1-and-a-half, 199-pound defensive back showed range as the Buckeyes' free safety.

Proctor is an older prospect. But based on Ohio State's track record of developing defensive backs, and Proctor's production as a starting safety in the Big Ten, expect him to be selected in either the sixth or seventh round by a team like the New Orleans Saints, Dallas Cowboys or Los Angeles Rams: teams that have selected and benefitted from OSU defensive backs in the past.

LB Steele Chambers NFL draft projection

A converted running back, Steele Chambers proved to be a solid force in the middle of Ohio State's defense.

Chambers was a three-year starter at linebacker for the Buckeyes. He was a back-to-back member of the All-Big Ten honorable mention team and led OSU in tackles in 2023 with 83. He has three games in three seasons with 10 or more tackles, including a 13-tackle performance against Michigan Nov. 25 last year.

Chambers is not expected to be one of the first linebackers selected in the NFL draft, but could be a sixth-or-seventh-round flier by a team based on Ohio State's success at developing linebackers, and his ability to fill run gaps as a former running back. If a team like the Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots or Houston Texans need a linebacker, Chambers may be selected late Saturday.

G Matt Jones NFL draft projection

Matt Jones showed his versatility in his six years with Ohio State football.

A former top-70 recruit in the 2018 class, Jones was a swing guard for the Buckeyes in his first four seasons and filled in on both the right and left sides while also serving as the team's backup center. Jones found his home at right guard in 2022 and 2023. He allowed one sack and seven pressures in those two seasons per Pro Football Focus.

Jones, a 6-foot-3½ and 316-pound lineman, is not expected to be selected in an NFL draft that includes Oregon's Jackson Powers-Johnson and Kansas State's Cooper Beebe. But Jones could be a valuable commodity as an undrafted free agent given his versatility.

WR Xavier Johnson NFL draft projection

Xavier Johnson did a bit of everything for Ohio State.

The 6-foot-1, 210-pound athlete served as both a running back and a slot receiver, while being a weapon on multiple special teams units like kickoff return. Johnson, a former walk-on, worked his way into the Buckeyes' rotation in his six years with the program. And while he should not be expected to be selected in the NFL draft, expect him to be a coveted free agent.

Expect a team like the Cincinnati Bengals or the New England Patriots — teams with a track record of taking former Ohio State players — to give Johnson a chance as an undrafted free agent.

RB Miyan Williams NFL draft projection

Miyan Williams may not be the biggest running back. But the former Ohio State rusher bruised his way through opposing defensive lines and found his share of daylight at the collegiate level.

In four seasons at Ohio State, Williams averaged 6 yards per carry and scored 20 touchdowns, 14 of which came during the 2022 season. A knee injury hampered Williams' production in 2023, recording 158 rushing yards on 49 carries.

Standing at 5-foot-8-and-a-half and 229 pounds, Williams will likely not be a draft pick, especially with his lack of versatility in the backfield as a pass catcher. But a team like the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys or the Pittsburgh Steelers all should take a look at Williams as a potential undrafted free agent option.

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State NFL draft projections: Best landing spots for top prospects