Marvin Harrison Jr. landed with the Houston Texans from the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday in a midseason trade, and for a franchise with 25 years under its belt, that is a wild rarity. This move marks only the fourth time the Texans have actually traded *for* a player in the middle of a season. Most of their October swaps have usually been about sending guys packing for draft picks, not bringing in a talent like Harrison.
The Ghost of First-Round Picks Past
This Harrison deal feels incredibly similar to one from 2019 for cornerback Gareon Conley. Think about it: both were former first-round picks out of Ohio State, and both were still trying to really hit their stride in Year 3 in the league. When the Texans grabbed Conley from the Raiders for a 2020 third-round pick, their 2019 season was at 4-3, and they were staring down injuries to starting corners Bradley Roby and Johnathan Joseph. Conley stepped up, playing well in the second half, racking up 27 tackles and 11 passes defended in eight games, with six starts. The Texans even went on to win the AFC South that year. In the postseason, he put up 10 tackles, a sack, and three passes defended, even if that run ended with a blown lead in the divisional round against Kansas City.
But here is the kicker: even though he solidified that defensive backfield, the Texans never picked up Conley’s fifth-year option. He came back for $1.9 million, then spent all of 2020 on injured reserve, and by the next year, he was out of the league completely. It is a stark reminder that even with an immediate boost, these midseason gambles do not always pan out long-term, and it definitely puts a spotlight on what is at stake with Harrison.
The Other Gambles and a Cut-Short Story
Before Conley, the Texans brought in receiver Demaryius Thomas in 2018 and Derrick Mason in 2011. The common thread for all these moves, including the Harrison trade, was optimism. The Texans felt they had a real shot at making a run if they could just fill a specific hole, especially one caused by injury. This year, they are clearly looking for a replacement for Jayden Higgins, who tore his ACL in training camp.
The Demaryius Thomas trade in 2018 saw the Texans send a 2019 fourth-round pick and a 2019 seventh-rounder to the Broncos for Thomas and a different 2019 seventh-round pick. At that point, the Texans were on a five-game winning streak after a rough 0-3 start, and Deshaun Watson was starting to look like the real deal. What happened next with Thomas is where the source info cuts short, but it gives you a glimpse into the type of situations that lead to these rare midseason additions.
So, Marvin Harrison Jr. is not just a new face on the Texans; he is now part of a tiny, high-stakes club in franchise history. Every previous time, the Texans were convinced they were just a piece away, especially when injuries hit. With Jayden Higgins out, Harrison is supposed to be that piece. The Conley story is a serious cautionary tale, and Thomas’s outcome is still a mystery from the records we have. Can Harrison defy the past, or will he add another layer to this complicated history of midseason swings? Texans fans are definitely watching to see if this move finally breaks the mold.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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