The Mannings. The Matthews. The Longs. The Metcalfs.
The NFL has a rich tradition of father-son legacies. There is an exclusive list of fathers and sons who can both say they were selected in the NFL Draft, and the 2024 NFL Draft will add several new members to the club.
We won’t be predicting who will be able to claim the better career, but rather which member of the family will hold bragging rights as the higher-drafted NFL player: the father or the son?
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Father: Marvin Harrison, WR, Syracuse (No. 19 pick, Round 1, 1996 draft)
A projected top-five pick, Marvin Harrison Jr. is the favorite to be the first non-quarterback selected Thursday night. With his savvy route running and ball-tracking skills, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree, although the younger Harrison has the edge in pure size without sacrificing athleticism. At the 1996 combine, the elder Harrison (who didn’t run or perform any testing) checked in at 5 feet 11 7/8 and 181 pounds. His son (who also elected not to test at the combine) measured 6-3 1/4 and 209.
Higher pick, father or son? Son. The younger Harrison will have the edge in terms of draft positioning, but he has a lot of work to do if he wants to finish his NFL career in the same conversation as his Hall of Fame father.
Father: Frank Gore, RB, Miami (No. 65 pick, Round 3, 2005)
The elder Gore almost certainly will hold the edge as the highest-drafted player in the family. The 40-year-old played as recently as the 2020 season and enjoyed his best years with the San Francisco 49ers, making five All-Pro teams during a decade-long run in the Bay Area. Gore finished his career with exactly 16,000 rushing yards, and his NFL record for games played by a running back (241) might stand the test of time — longevity at the position in today’s NFL isn’t exactly a rewarded skill.
😤😤😤 That’s my Boy‼️ #DoitfortheDoubters #ForeverGrateful @NFL 🙏🏿 https://t.co/zRfQE4X31b
— Frank Gore (@frankgore) November 10, 2023
Higher pick, father or son? Father. With his toughness and run instincts, Frank Gore Jr. has some of his father’s Hall of Fame-worthy DNA but doesn’t play with the same type of explosive burst. The younger Gore is a late-round prospect or priority free agent.
Father: Ed McCaffrey, WR, Stanford (No. 83 pick, Round 3, 1991)
Ed McCaffrey, a three-time Super Bowl champ, enjoyed a productive 13-year NFL career that saw him accumulate almost 7,500 receiving yards. These days, he has enjoyed watching his sons follow in his footsteps. His oldest son, Max, went undrafted out of Duke but bounced around the league for a few seasons. His middle son, Christian, is one of the best players in the NFL (and holds family bragging rights as a top-10 pick). And now the youngest, Luke, should join the family business, likely as an early Day 3 selection.
Higher pick, father or son?: Father. Luke might not be drafted quite as high as his father, but he will have a good chance of outplaying his own draft slot.
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Why Luke McCaffrey is such an intriguing draft prospect
Father: Jerry Rice, WR, Mississippi Valley State (No. 16 pick, Round 1, 1985)
I mean, c’mon. It’s Jerry Rice. Obviously, it would be unfair for Brenden to be compared to his father, a Hall of Famer and one of the greatest players ever to lace up cleats in the NFL. But Brenden also doesn’t run from his father’s shadow. Although the two didn’t reside in the same house while Brenden was growing up, they have developed a close relationship over the years, and Jerry has become an extra coach for his son during his transition to the pro game.
BRENDEN RICE TOUCHDOWN
The @uscfb WR finds the end zone in his return to Folsom field✌️ pic.twitter.com/MFFTwVzm5C
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 30, 2023
Higher pick, father or son?: Father. The younger Rice is expected to be drafted late on Day 2 or early on Day 3. However, there is plenty about Brenden Rice’s game that translates well to the next level.
Father: John Alt, OT, Iowa (No. 21 pick, Round 1, 1984)
John Alt was a standout offensive tackle for the Hawkeyes and lived up to his status as a first-round pick. He finished his 13-year NFL career with a couple of Pro Bowls, an All-Pro season and a spot in the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame. But Joe, the youngest of John’s five children, will be the higher-drafted player. With his father’s influence, Joe grew up as an athlete before transitioning to the offensive line as a senior in high school and then became an All-American left tackle for the Irish.
Higher pick, father or son?: Son. Joe should be the first offensive lineman drafted in the 2024 class. (John was the third offensive lineman taken in 1984.)
Father: Jerome Foster, DL, Ohio State (No. 139 pick, Round 5, 1983)
This one might be close. Jerome played for three teams (the Houston Oilers, Miami Dolphins and New York Jets) during his stint in the NFL, but I am giving the edge to Javon as the higher draft pick.
Higher pick, father or son?: Son. In my recent seven-round mock draft, Javon landed at No. 122 (Chicago Bears), and he might go even higher, as there will be a drop-off beyond the top 40 picks in quality players at the OT position.
Father: Terry Nugent, QB, Colorado State (No. 158 pick, Round 6, 1984)
The NFL feedback on Drake is that he is a borderline draft pick. Some teams believe he could be selected late; others consider him a potential undrafted free agent. Even if he hears his name called, it probably won’t be until the sixth or seventh round, which means the elder Nugent likely will be the highest-drafted player in the family.
Higher pick, father or son?: Father. That said, it wouldn’t be surprising if Drake has the better pro career. Terry lasted only one year with the team that drafted him, the Cleveland Browns, then bounced around for a few years before retiring and becoming a financial advisor.
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Dane Brugler’s 7-round 2024 NFL mock draft: Predicting all 257 picks
Father: Luther Elliss, DL, Utah (No. 20 pick, Round 1, 1995)
Luther Elliss was part of a 1995 first round that included a dozen future Pro Bowlers, including himself and stars like Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks. If you are going to rank the top 10 Detroit Lions of the 1990s, Luther fits somewhere in there. He and his wife have 12 children (seven adopted, five biological), including Jonah, whom Luther had the opportunity to coach in his current role on the Utah coaching staff.
Higher pick, father or son?: Father. Although Jonah Elliss won’t be a top-20 draft pick like his father, he is expected to be selected somewhere in the top 100 and has a bright football future ahead of him.
Father: James Harrell, LB, Florida (Undrafted)
James carved out an impressive career for himself. He was a walk-on at Florida before eventually earning a scholarship. And even though he wasn’t drafted in the 1979 class, he played professional football for nine seasons, primarily with the Lions.
Higher pick, father or son?: Son, by default. Jaylen was a more high-profile recruit, and although he isn’t expected to be a high draft pick, he should hear his name called at some point on Day 3.
Father: Kris Jenkins, DT, Maryland (No. 44 pick, Round 2, 2001 draft)
This one should be close. The elder Jenkins made multiple Pro Bowls with the Carolina Panthers and turned that into a payday with the New York Jets. The younger Jenkins plays the same position as his father, but he is about 60 pounds lighter and a different style of defensive tackle.
The Mutant picks it off. 👀@UMichFootball DL @KrisJenkinsJr1 gets the big INT.
📺: @BigTenNetwork pic.twitter.com/zA4mWJ9dfT
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) September 17, 2023
Higher pick, father or son?: Son. If I had to put an over/under on Jenkins’ landing spot, I would say No. 40. It is a long shot that he sneaks into the first round, but there are several potential landing spots for him in early Round 2, including a possible reunion with Jim Harbaugh — the Los Angeles Chargers hold pick 37.
Father: Jeremiah Trotter, LB, Stephen F. Austin (No. 72 pick, Round 3, 1998)
One of the NFL’s best linebackers around the turn of the century, Jeremiah Trotter was a four-time Pro Bowler and looked like a steal after the Philadelphia Eagles drafted him mid-third round. He put together a 12-year NFL career and was inducted into the Eagles’ Hall of Fame. His oldest son shares a name — and a similar play style.
Higher pick, father or son?: Father. In today’s NFL, Jeremiah Trotter Jr. likely won’t be drafted as early as his father, although it won’t be surprising if he can carve out a 12-year NFL career of his own.
Father: Donnie Abraham, DB, East Tennessee State (No. 71 pick, Round 3, 1996)
Despite playing at a smaller school, Donnie was a top-75 pick and more than lived up to his draft spot, becoming a Pro Bowler in 2000 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He has remained in football as a longtime coach (currently the defensive coordinator of the St. Louis Battlehawks in the UFL) and has helped guide his son on his football journey.
Higher pick, father or son?: Father. Micah Abraham is an underrated player who should be more well known as a draft prospect. In his final two college seasons at Marshall, he combined for 10 interceptions, and he has NFL-level speed (4.43-second 40-yard dash).
Father: Ron Stone, G, Boston College (No. 96 pick, Round 4, 1993)
The elder Stone put together an impressive NFL resume, which started with a pair of Super Bowl wins with the Dallas Cowboys. But it was later in his career when he hit his peak as a Pro Bowler with the New York Giants and 49ers. Most fathers and sons play the same position, but this is the first father-son duo on the list with one on offense and the other on defense.
Higher pick, father or son?: Father. Ron Stone Jr. won’t be as highly drafted as his father, but he has a chance to be drafted late as a sub-package rusher.
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(Photos of Marvin Harrison and Marvin Harrison Jr.: Albert Dickson / Sporting News via Getty Images; Jason Mowry / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
2024-04-21 11:22:06
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