Colts' Jim Irsay on Marvin Harrison Jr. Trade Rumors: 'I Wouldn't Rule Anything Out'

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay hasn't ruled out a trade for the right to select Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., even given the high cost of moving up in the 2024 NFL draft.

Irsay told FOX59's Mike Chappell that drafting Harrison is likely "too difficult" despite the team's "great" interest.

"I wouldn't rule anything out,'' Irsay said, per Chappell. "We're open-minded."

The Colts hold the No. 15 pick in the first round, which will take place Thursday, while Harrison is projected as a top-five selection by the B/R NFL Scouting Department.

B/R NFL Scout Derrik Klassen described Harrison as "an exceptional mover" with "truly exceptional ball skills" who would be "an instant No. 1 WR for most offenses." It also doesn't hurt his appeal to the fanbase that his father, Marvin Harrison Sr., spent his 13-year Hall of Fame career with the franchise.

Colts general manager Chris Ballard has previously indicated that Indianapolis would consider either moving up or trading down, depending on what is offered in either direction, according to NFL.com's Coral Smith.

When speaking with reporters earlier this week, Ballard pointed out that the Colts succeeded when trading up for running back Jonathan Taylor, then a star out of Wisconsin, in 2020.

"When we see one that's in striking distance that we think we can go get, we'll do it. But it's got to work out," Ballard said, per Smith. "And then you've got to have too, you've got to have somebody that wants to make the trade."

The Taylor trade involved a much smaller leap than what moving up to draft Harrison would likely require. In the case of the 2020 draft, the Colts jumped just three spots from No. 44 to No. 41 to grab the running back.

In this case, the Colts would likely only find themselves within the "striking distance" described by Ballard if Harrison has an unlikely slide on draft night.

There's still a possibility that teams could draft Washington's Rome Odunze or LSU's Malik Nabers ahead of Harrison if they find one of the other top wideouts a better match for their offensive structure.

That might allow Harrison to fall a spot or two, but anything beyond that would be a true surprise.