The relentless passage of time affects us all, and what better time to contemplate our own mortality than during the NFL Draft? With an ever-increasing number of NFL progeny entering the league, we are witnessing the children of players who retired less than a decade ago seeking a home in the NFL. The 2024 NFL Draft class is headlined by three players who are the offspring of former NFL players, with a few more scattered throughout the draft.
Marvin Harrison Jr., a wide receiver from Ohio State, has been on the draft radar for the past three years as one of the most highly touted receiver prospects since Randy Moss or Calvin Johnson. Harrison Jr. possesses his father’s elite route-running skills but is even more athletic. A true unicorn of a player, he has the uncanny ability to elevate the quarterback’s performance simply by creating mismatches on the outside. His name will undoubtedly resonate for years to come.
Frank Gore Jr., a running back from Southern Mississippi, represents a throwback to the classic three-down back. In college, he relied on power rather than speed or finesse to excel. While he may not be the master of any one particular aspect, his versatility as a Jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none hurts his draft position. Nevertheless,凭借他的名声，他肯定会得到一支球队的青睐，并且有望成为一名三号跑卫。
Brenden Rice, the son of the legendary Jerry Rice, has a shot at being a solid mid-round pick for a team. After transferring from Colorado to USC in 2023, Brenden concluded his collegiate career as a dependable weapon for Caleb Williams, hauling in 45 passes for 791 yards. A solid-sized possession receiver akin to his father, Brenden falls short in terms of polished route running. Nonetheless, he finds ways to make plays and was a touchdown machine for the Trojans. He projects to be a reliable day three pick.
Luke McCaffrey, a wide receiver from Rice University, is the son of former Broncos wide receiver Ed McCaffrey and the brother of Christian McCaffrey. A former quarterback who transitioned to wide receiver, Luke has shown immense promise in a short period of time. There are many rough edges to his game as a receiver, but that could be attributed to his limited experience at the position. McCaffrey is likely to be a Day 3 pick, but he possesses more upside than the majority of players selected in that range.
Kris Jenkins, a defensive tackle from Michigan, is the son of former All-Pro defensive tackle Kris Jenkins who played for the Panthers and Jets. Like his father, he was an integral part of the Wolverines’ National Championship defense. A potential plus-level starter in the NFL, Kris is a disruptive player with sound technique. However, his frame falls short of the ideal, which prevents him from being a first-round pick.
Jeremiah Trotter Jr., a linebacker from Clemson, is the son of former Eagles linebacker who shares his name. He is a solid tackling machine with a natural instinct for wrapping up players at the point of attack and rarely takes poor angles in pursuit. Trotter Jr. falls down the draft board due to his lack of size, but he has the potential to develop into a reliable defensive player.
