Cardinals Trade Marvin Harrison Jr. to Texans for 2027 Draft Picks

The Marvin Harrison Jr. trade became official Saturday, with the Arizona Cardinals sending the former No. 4 overall pick and a 2027 seventh-round selection to the Houston Texans for a 2027 second-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick, according to Adam Schefter. The deal stayed quiet until after Houston’s 26-3 win over Tennessee, when head coach DeMeco Ryans confirmed it in his postgame press conference.

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Why the Cardinals moved on

Harrison arrived in 2024 with a decorated Ohio State résumé: Biletnikoff Award, two-time All-American, Big Ten MVP. His rookie year produced 62 receptions, 885 yards, eight touchdowns, 43 first downs and 116 targets, tying the franchise rookie touchdown record shared by Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. Yet he was not named to the NFL All-Rookie Team, and Arizona had passed on Malik Nabers, Brock Bowers, Cooper DeJean and Joe Alt to take him.

The 2025 season unraveled through injuries: concussion, appendectomy, heel and foot issues. Harrison started 10 games, finished with 608 yards and four touchdowns on 14.8 yards per catch, and landed on injured reserve after the foot problem. On the field, his separation never matched his draft profile. He averaged 2.1 yards of separation per target, ranked last among wide receivers with 50-plus targets, and sat 70th in yards per route run since 2024. Ten drops in 30 starts compounded the problem, and Jacoby Brissett, Arizona’s quarterback, rarely looked his way.

What Houston is getting

The Texans are betting that a change of scenery unlocks the player drafted fourth overall in 2024. Harrison joins former Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud, and Houston needed help after losing Jayden Higgins to an ACL injury, with Nico Collins carrying an injury history. Harrison’s 2026 production before the trade was modest: 13 targets, five receptions, 85 yards, one touchdown, five first downs, a 17.0 average and one drop. He was inactive against Detroit in Week 5.

Money and replacement plan

Harrison is due $4 million in 2026 and $5.62 million in 2027, with a fifth-year option upcoming. Arizona already paid a $22.5 million signing bonus. The Cardinals will turn to Kendrick Bourne in the slot and Jalen Brooks opposite Michael Wilson, who became the team’s top receiver after 2025. Trey McBride (56 targets) and Wilson (51) had been Brissett’s preferred options, while Bourne saw 22 targets.

General manager Ossenfort, who spent 14 years with Nick Caserio in New England, executed a trade orchestrated by the coaching staff. Head coach Mike LaFleur said the move was in the best interest of the club. The Cardinals now hold a 2027 second-round pick, and Ossenfort needs to hit on it. Harrison leaves a 1-4 team for another 1-4 team, still searching for the form that made him a top prospect.