Cardinals fans eager to show their support for Arizona’s No. 4 overall pick, Marvin Harrison Jr., by purchasing clothing bearing the wide receiver’s name are currently out of luck. And they won’t be able to do that until Harrison signs a licensing deal with the NFL Players’ Association.
Fanatics and other NFL-approved retailers cannot carry his merchandise until the rookie signs his licensing agreement, which would monetize his name, number, likeness and other associated assets. According to a notice on the Fanatics website, the products will be immediately available once Harrison signs the contract.
Harrison, who does not have an agent, did not say whether he would sign the deal when asked Friday.
“I will continue to talk to my team. We will do what is best for me in the future,” he said. told reporters. “Just take it one day at a time.” I just got drafted, so I’m trying to enjoy the moment and be happy as much as I can right now.
Harrison – the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer and former Indianapolis Colts great Marvin Harrison Sr. – had back-to-back 1,200-yard, 14-touchdown seasons during his final two years at Ohio State and was widely considered the best receiver. perspective in this year’s class. On Thursday, he was selected behind three quarterbacks: No. 1 pick Caleb Williams (Chicago Bears), Jayden Daniels (No. 2 Washington Commanders) and Drake Maye (No. 3 New England Patriots).
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This is not the first time that a player has not immediately signed a licensing contract. In one of the most notable cases, former NFL linebacker LaVar Arrington – selected by Washington second overall in the 2000 NFL Draft – didn’t sign his licensing deal until several seasons into his career, which lasted until the 2006 season.
A player is not required to sign the contract, but if he does not do so, not only can he not sell a jersey, but he also cannot have his likeness on video games, figurines or other collectibles.
Most players who sign receive a base royalty check of about $17,000 each season, according to a source within the NFLPA familiar with player income figures. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. Players with top-selling products, such as Patrick Mahomes, receive significantly larger royalty checks, with the numbers varying from year to year.
Williams, the No. 1 pick, broke the Fanatics record for merchandise sales on draft night for all picks in all sports, breaking the previous record set by basketball star Caitlin Clark, according to Reuters. said Fanatics. The WNBA’s Indiana Fever drafted Clark No. 1 earlier this month, and less than two days later, his jerseys exhausted on the official WNBA store operated by Fanatics.
Williams’ jersey was available for purchase on Fanatics sites including Fanatics, NFL Store and Bears Online Store.
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(Photo: Grégory Shamus / Getty Images)