The Mannings. The Matthews. The Long ones. The Metcalfs.
The NFL has a rich tradition of father-son legacy. 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 predict who will be able to claim the best career, but rather which family member will hold the bragging rights of being the highest drafted player in the NFL: the father or the son?
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Father: Marvin Harrison, WR, Syracuse (No. 19 pick, first round, 1996 draft)
Marvin Harrison Jr., a projected top-five pick, is the favorite to be the first non-quarterback selected Thursday night. With his savvy route running and ball tracking skills, the apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree, although the younger Harrison has the edge in pure size without sacrificing his athleticism. At the 1996 combine, the elder Harrison (who did not run or test) checked in at 5-foot-11 7/8 and 181 pounds. His son (who also opted not to test at the combine) was 6-3 1/4 and 209.
Superior choice, father or son? Son. The younger Harrison will have the advantage 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 (pick #65, round 3, 2005)
The elder Gore will almost certainly hold the edge as the highest-drafted player in the family. The 40-year-old played as recently as the 2020 season and had his best years with the San Francisco 49ers, making five All-Pro teams over the course of a decade in the Bay Area. Gore finished his career with exactly 16,000 rushing yards, and his record for games played by an NFL running back (241) could stand the test of time – longevity at the position in today’s NFL ‘today isn’t exactly a rewarded skill.
😤😤😤 That’s my boy‼️ #MadeforDoubters #ForeverThankful @NFL 🙏🏿
– Frank Gore (@frankgore) November 10, 2023
Superior choice, father or son? Father. With his toughness and running 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 outburst. The younger Gore is a late-round prospect or priority free agent.
Father: Ed McCaffrey, WR, Stanford (pick No. 83, round 3, 1991)
Three-time Super Bowl champion Ed McCaffrey enjoyed a productive 13-year NFL career that saw him accumulate nearly 7,500 receiving yards. These days, he enjoys seeing his sons follow in his footsteps. His oldest son, Max, went undrafted by 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 his family’s bragging rights as a top-10 pick). And now the youngest, Luke, is expected to join the family business, likely as a day three selection.
Superior choice, father or son? : Father. Luke may not be drafted as high as his father, but he will have a good chance of surpassing his own draft slot.
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Father: Jerry Rice, WR, Mississippi Valley State (No. 16 pick, first round, 1985)
I mean, come on. 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 to ever lace up cleats in the NFL. But Brenden doesn’t run away from his father’s shadow either. Although the two did not reside in the same house when Brenden was growing up, they developed a close relationship over the years and Jerry became an additional coach for his son during his transition to professional football.
BRENDEN RICE TOUCHDOWN
THE @uscfb WR finds end zone on return to Folsom field✌️ pic.twitter.com/MFFTwVzm5C
– FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 30, 2023
Superior choice, father or son? : Father. The younger Rice is expected to be drafted late in day two or early in day three. However, there is a lot about Brenden Rice’s game that translates well to the next level.
Father: John Alt, OT, Iowa (No. 21 pick, first round, 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 highest drafted player. Under the influence of his father, Joe grew up as an athlete before moving to the offensive line as a high school student and then becoming an All-American left tackle for the Irish.
Superior choice, father or son? : Son. Joe is expected to be the first offensive lineman drafted in the 2024 class. (John was the third offensive lineman drafted in 1984.)
Father: Jerome Foster, DL, Ohio State (pick No. 139, round 5, 1983)
This one might be close. Jerome played for three teams (the Houston Oilers, Miami Dolphins, and New York Jets) during his time in the NFL, but I give the edge to Javon as the highest draft pick.
Superior choice, father or son? : Son. In my recent seven-round mock draft, Javon landed at No. 122 (Chicago Bears), and he could go even higher, as there will be a drop-off beyond the top 40 picks for quality players at the position. ‘OT.
Father: Terry Nugent, QB, Colorado State (pick #158, 6th round, 1984)
The NFL’s comments on Drake are that he is a borderline draft pick. Some teams think he could be a late draft pick; others view him as a potential undrafted free agent. Even if he hears his name called, it probably won’t be until the sixth or seventh round, meaning the elder Nugent will likely be the highest-drafted player in the family.
Superior choice, father or son? : Father. That said, it wouldn’t be surprising if Drake had the better professional career. Terry only spent a 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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Father: Luther Elliss, DL, Utah (No. 20 pick, first round, 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 want to rank the top 10 Detroit Lions of the 1990s, Luther is somewhere there. He and his wife have 12 children (seven adopted, five biological), including Jonah, whom Luther has had the opportunity to coach in his current role on the Utah coaching staff.
Superior choice, father or son? : Father. Although Jonah Elliss is not 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 has carved out an impressive career for himself. He was a backup at Florida before getting a scholarship. And although he went undrafted in the class of 1979, he played professional football for nine seasons, primarily with the Lions.
Superior choice, father or son? : Son, by default. Jaylen was a higher-profile rookie, and while he’s not expected to be a high-profile draft pick, he should hear his name called at some point during day three.
Father: Kris Jenkins, DT, Maryland (#44 pick, second round, 2001 draft)
This one should be close. The elder Jenkins made several Pro Bowls with the Carolina Panthers and earned a living with the New York Jets. The younger Jenkins plays the same position as his father, but he’s about 60 pounds lighter and has a different style of defensive tackle.
The Mutant kidnaps him. 👀@UMichFootball D.L. @KrisJenkinsJr1 gets the big INT.
📺: @BigTenNetwork pic.twitter.com/zA4mWJ9dfT
– Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) September 17, 2023
Superior choice, father or son? : Son. If I had to put an over/under on Jenkins’ landing spot, I’d say #40. He’s unlikely to sneak into the first round, but there are several potential landing spots for him early in the second round, including a possible reunion with Jim Harbaugh – the Los Angeles Chargers hold the 37th pick.
Father: Jeremiah Trotter, LB, Stephen F. Austin (pick #72, 3rd round, 1998)
One of the best linebackers in the NFL at the turn of the century, Jeremiah Trotter was a four-time Pro Bowler and looked like a steal after the Philadelphia Eagles drafted him midway through the third round. He had a 12-year NFL career and was inducted into the Eagles Hall of Fame. His oldest son shares a similar name and playing style.
Superior choice, father or son? : Father. In today’s NFL, Jeremiah Trotter Jr. likely won’t be drafted as early as his father, although it wouldn’t be surprising if he could forge his own 12-year NFL career.
Father: Donnie Abraham, DB, East Tennessee State (pick No. 71, 3rd round, 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 remained in football as a longtime coach (currently defensive coordinator for the St. Louis Battlehawks in the UFL) and helped guide his son on his football journey.
Superior choice, father or son? : Father. Micah Abraham is an underrated player who should be better known as a draft prospect. In his final two college seasons at Marshall, he has a combined 10 interceptions and he has NFL-level speed (4.43 seconds 40-yard dash).
Father: Ron Stone, G, Boston College (pick #96, round 4, 1993)
The elder Stone put together an impressive NFL resume, which began with two Super Bowl victories with the Dallas Cowboys. But it was later in his career that he reached 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.
Superior choice, father or son? : Father. Ron Stone Jr. won’t be drafted as highly as his father, but he has a chance to be drafted late as a sub-pack.
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(Photos by Marvin Harrison and Marvin Harrison Jr.: Albert Dickson/Sporting News via Getty Images; Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images