Marvin Harrison Jr.’s time with the Arizona Cardinals is coming to an end after it began only three seasons ago as a first-round draft pick with a Hall of Fame pedigree and high expectations.
The team has informed Harrison it is finalizing a deal to trade him and he will be inactive for Sunday’s game against the Detriot Lions, ESPN first reported and OutKick has confirmed.
Harrison was not initially told what team he’d be traded to, perhaps, one NFL source said, because the Cardinals were open to the idea of having the news leak, and then other teams would raise their trade offers for Harrison.
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But he’s definitely going somewhere else.
Harrison, the son of Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison, was the fourth player taken in the 2024 NFL Draft ahead of multiple starting quarterbacks and more productive players such as Brock Bowers, but he has fallen out of favor over the last year as his production declined, his effort and even body language around the team has been questioned and other teams showed interest in acquiring him.
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New coach Mike LaFleur had defended Harrison’s effort, saying, “I don’t see it that way. I think his running style is different than some other people’s,” while adding that other players had increasingly more defined roles in an offense with limited weekly plays.
LaFleur also said some opportunities for Harrison have been eliminated because defensive coverages have dictated he not get the ball while Arizona’s own subpar quarterback play also hasn’t helped.
The problem with that is the Cardinals have had great receivers who have dealt with similar issues and they were very much valued. Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald comes to mind.
Except Fitzgerald was never inconsistent in his pass catching while Harrison has struggled with drops. And Fitzgerald simply played hard – all the time. Harrison?
It’s a lingering question.
Rumors of a possible Harrison trade have persisted for weeks, fed by the fact he is eligible for a contract extension after this season and the Cardinals may not be convinced Harrison is worthy of a big contract. Also, Michael Wilson has emerged as a more productive receiver while Harrison currently ranks only fifth on the team in targets.
General manager Monti Ossenfort said on Oct. 9 that Harrison “is a big part of what we’re doing,” suggesting the team is still more interested in fixing his situation than moving him.
Nope.
Harrison Jr. wasn’t immediately a bust after being drafted out of Ohio State. His rookie season showed both his talent and some inconsistency, but he finished with 62 receptions for 885 yards and eight touchdowns.
The Cardinals expected a Year 2 jump from Harrison. That never came and didn’t come this season, either.
Multiple teams have contacted the Cardinals about Harrison.
The Houston Texans have, the Kansas City Chiefs have, as have the Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, and even the San Francisco 49ers – although that last one is a long shot considering they play in the same division with the Cardinals.
The Cardinals have been seeking a package that included a second-round pick in return for Harrison.
And this is how bad teams stay bad: The Cardinals are essentially trading a 2024 first round pick for a second-rounder (maybe) years later after getting little in return for their initial investment.
