Marvin Harrison Jr. was the fourth pick of the 2024 draft, and the Arizona Cardinals took him that high to be their top receiver for a long time. Three games into Harrison’s third season, league executives are watching for a possible trade, and at least one of them no longer sees that kind of player on film.
“He’s like a third receiver with upside,” an AFC executive told The Athletic’s Jonathan Jones. “He’s not fast, not physical and doesn’t do anything after the catch.” Jones reported that multiple sources who studied Harrison’s 2026 tape do not see the energy and effort of a No. 1 wideout. The production backs that up, with four catches for 73 yards and no touchdowns through three games.
Cardinals not ready to sell low on Harrison
Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
Jones called Harrison the biggest name teams are monitoring ahead of the Nov. 10 trade deadline, and wrote that more teams are interested than not if the price is reasonable. Price is where it gets complicated for general manager Monti Ossenfort. Moving Harrison for anything less than a Day 2 pick, 30 months after spending the fourth selection on him, would not help Ossenfort’s reputation.
A second AFC executive gave Jones a more sympathetic read. Injuries, drops, fewer targets and an unsettled quarterback situation can weigh on a young player, that executive said, and Harrison may need “a change of scenery” to be at his best. The same executive added that Arizona would want to hold on to as many assets as it can.
There is a football reason to wait, too. The Cardinals are 1-2 and expect to be in the market for a franchise quarterback in next year’s draft, according to Jones, and that quarterback would be better off with a productive Harrison. He has not been one with Jacoby Brissett. PFF gives Harrison a 54.1 receiving grade, which ranks 79th among 84 qualified wide receivers.
Jones does not sense Arizona is desperate to make a deal yet. Harrison’s next chance to change the conversation comes Sunday at the New York Giants, a defense he predicted will give Arizona the coverage it has been waiting for.
