NFL Draft 2024: It's a family affair for league legends Jerry Rice, Frank Gore, Marvin Harrison, Ed McCaffrey and Terrell Owens as their sons prepare to learn their fate

The sons of NFL legends like Jerry Rice and Marvin Harrison are preparing to hear their names called in Thursday's draft in a year that looks set to be a family affair.

Harrison's son, Marvin Harrison Jr., is the biggest name of the former pros' kin, and is expected to be taken within the first five picks after a stellar college career at Ohio State.

The wide receiver topped 1,200 yards and caught 14 touchdowns in each of his sophomore and junior seasons for the Buckeyes, and credited his 2016 Hall of Fame inductee dad for setting 'pure perfection' as the standard to achieve from a very young age.

'The work ethic definitely comes from him,' Harrison said. 'To always push myself to be the best player that I can be.'

Harrison Jr. has not hired an agent, and according to the New York Post, his father has helped him navigate his pre-draft visits.

Later in the first round, Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt - the son of former Chiefs offensive lineman John Alt - is also expected to hear his name called.

Michigan defensive lineman Kris Jenkins, the son of former Panthers and Jets defensive tackle Kris Jenkins, is another potential first-round pick. The elder Jenkins was a second-round pick in 2001 and a two-time All-Pro.

Harrison is far from the only ex-receiver with a draft-eligible son playing the same position.

Rice, widely considered the greatest wide receiver in NFL history, will watch to see where his son Brenden ends up after finishing his college career at USC.

The senior is projected to be a mid-round pick, while the same is true of Rice's Luke McCaffrey, the son of Super Bowl winner Ed McCaffrey and brother of 49ers star Christian McCaffrey.

Playing under presumptive No. 1 pick Caleb Williams, Rice had a productive 2023 as he totaled 791 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Trojans.

McCaffrey caught 71 balls for 13 scores and nearly 1,000 yards at Rice in his senior season.

Terique Owens, the son of another Hall of Fame wideout in Terrell Owens, is more of a longshot to be picked in the later rounds of the draft.

Another name that NFL fans will recognize is Frank Gore Jr., the son of longtime running back and five-time Pro Bowler Frank Gore, who is most known for his time with the 49ers.

His son is also a running back, and the Southern Miss product was named the MVP at the Shrine Bowl, a showcase for the best college players held after every season.

Gore Sr. is third all-time in the NFL with exactly 16,000 career rushing yards, ranking ahead of Barry Sanders and behind Walter Payton and Emmitt Smith.

 'It's a blessing,' Gore Jr. said of following in his dad's footsteps.

'I have the responsibility to take it further.' 

Other players with prominent ex-NFL dads include Clemson linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and edge Ron Stone Jr., the son of three-time Pro Bowler Ron Stone.

Trotter Jr. is the son of former Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, a four-time Pro Bowl selection who played in the Super Bowl for Andy Reid in Philadelphia and also had a tour with Washington before returning to Philly.

Micah Abraham, the son of longtime defensive back and one-time Pro Bowler Donnie Abraham, offensive tackle Javon Foster (son of former defensive lineman Jerome Foster), center Drake Nugent (son of former quarterback Terry Nugent), edge rusher Jonah Elliss (son of two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle/end Luther Elliss), and edge  Jaylen Harrel (son of former linebacker James Harrell) are also candidates to be drafted.

49ers GM John Lynch, a former player himself, maintains the value of a player's lineage can be critical in a final draft grade and scouting report.

'I believe in bloodlines,' Lynch said. 'I really do. I mean, I think there's evidence that you should. 

Then you have to step away from that and you have to evaluate it. And that's sometimes difficult to do and that's why (you need) a lot of different eyes, a lot of different perspectives.

'There's some inherent pressure on who their dad is, but there's also some good genes and I think that matters. ...  it's a fun element to this year's draft that I think is going to be interesting to watch to see how it unfolds.'