The awkward situation with wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and the Arizona Cardinals is finally done. He is officially a Houston Texan after his new team reportedly sent multiple draft picks to Arizona in exchange for the fourth overall pick from the 2024 NFL Draft. Specifically, Houston shipped a 2027 second-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick to the Cardinals, while getting Harrison Jr. and a 2027 seventh-round draft choice in return. This isn’t just some run-of-the-mill trade, either: Harrison Jr., at 24 years old, is the first wide receiver since Ahmad Rashad in 1974 to be traded within his first three NFL years after being selected as a top-five pick. That’s a huge stat.
Houston Is Grasping at Straws While Stroud Shines Alone
Let’s be real, the Houston Texans are in a tough spot in 2026. They’re sitting at a dismal 1-4 as Week 5 gets underway. Their biggest problem? They absolutely cannot run the ball. They’re averaging a mere 57.4 rushing yards per game, which is the second-fewest in the entire league. Their running back group is dead last, averaging a pathetic 3.0 yards per carry. It’s a brutal reality check for a team trying to compete.
And yet, this abysmal start has nothing to do with quarterback C.J. Stroud. That guy is an absolute stud. His 280.4 passing yards per game ranks fourth-most in the NFL, and his 6-0 touchdown-to-interception ratio is tied for the second-best in the league. Seriously, Stroud has thrown 185 passes without an interception, which is the fourth most in NFL history through four games. He’s carrying that team on his back, but he’s getting zero help on the ground. This Harrison Jr. move is actually their second wide receiver trade of 2026, after already dealing safety Jaylen Reed and a 2028 seventh-round pick to the Patriots for veteran wide receiver Kayshon Boutte earlier this offseason. Houston is clearly trying to put the entire offense on Stroud’s shoulders this season.
The Stroud-Harrison Reunion: Can It Overcome Houston’s Flaws?
So, why Marvin Harrison Jr.? Well, he and Stroud go way back. They were Ohio State teammates for two seasons, from 2021 to 2022. During their time together, especially in 2022 when Stroud was the starting quarterback, Harrison Jr. absolutely feasted. He put up 14 receiving touchdowns, which is tied for the third-most in a single season in Buckeyes’ history. He also set or tied career-highs in catches with 77, and racked up 1,263 receiving yards that year. The chemistry is definitely there, no doubt.
The Cardinals, on the other hand, came out looking pretty good here. They reportedly extracted near-max value for Harrison Jr., getting that 2027 second-round pick and a sixth-rounder. That’s a smart play to stack future draft capital.
For the Texans, this trade is a massive, desperate bet. They’re clearly hoping the Stroud-Harrison connection can spark an offense that needs a jolt, especially with that run game being an absolute black hole. Can adding another talented receiver actually turn around a 1-4 season, or is this just a big swing to keep Stroud from totally losing his mind?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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