The Arizona Cardinals’ divorce with their 2024 fourth overall pick, wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., is officially done. Arizona sent the 24-year-old, along with a 2027 seventh-round pick, to the Houston Texans in exchange for a 2027 second-round draft pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick, according to ESPN. This bombshell trade, rumored all weekend, got confirmed by the Texans head coach on Sunday, right after Houston snagged their first win of the year, a 26-3 beatdown of the Tennessee Titans. Harrison was inactive for the Cardinals’ game against the Detroit Lions as the trade was pending, but now he’s getting that fresh start everyone knew he needed after things didn’t quite click in Arizona.
The Buckeye Band is Back Together in H-Town
This trade is all about one thing: the reunion. Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud and Harrison were absolute magic together at Ohio State in 2021 and 2022. You think Stroud’s pumped? When asked about the trade after his game, the dude just smiled and said, “You want to know more? I don’t know what more I can tell you. I think he’s a great guy, think he’s a great player, and I’m excited to get him here.” That’s high praise, but it gets even better. CBS Sports’ Aditi Kinkhabwala spoke with Stroud on Saturday, and he was gushing about Harrison, calling him an “amazing talent,” a “great teammate,” and “one of the hardest workers he’s ever known.” Stroud even said he still believes in what Harrison can do and that “sometimes a fresh start can be really good.” If these two can even come close to what they did in college, the Texans’ offense is about to get a dramatic improvement. With Stroud slinging it in 2022 at Ohio State, Harrison set or tied his career-highs with a monstrous 77 receptions, 1,263 receiving yards, and 14 receiving touchdowns. That’s the kind of production Houston is betting on.
Why Things Didn’t Click in Arizona
It’s no secret Harrison Jr. struggled to find his footing with the Cardinals. Early in the 2026 season, for a 1-3 Arizona squad, he only managed five catches for 85 yards receiving and a single touchdown. That’s tied for sixth in receptions on the team, behind guys like All-Pro tight end Trey McBride (33), wide receiver Michael Wilson (25), Kendrick Bourne (13), and even running backs Jeremiyah Love (11) and Tyler Allgeier (10). For his entire Cardinals career, Harrison totaled 108 catches for 1,578 yards and 13 receiving touchdowns, despite being targeted 202 times. While that sounds decent, 202 targets was still only the third-most on the team since 2024, trailing McBride’s insane 362 and Wilson’s 241. You can see why a fresh start and a familiar quarterback might be exactly what the doctor ordered for the young wideout. The Texans desperately need another reliable pass-catcher to step up for Stroud, and Harrison, with his Ohio State history, seems like a perfect fit to be that guy.
This trade has definitely sent shockwaves through the league. For the Texans, getting Harrison Jr. back with his old quarterback C.J. Stroud could be a game-changer for their season, and you know they’re looking forward to seeing that connection light up the scoreboard.
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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