Cardinals Finalizing WR Marvin Harrison Jr. Trade

The 24-year-old will be inactive for Sunday’s game against the Lions with the expectation of completing the deal early next week. The teams involved “prefer the trade destination is not announced,” until after this weekend’s games, NFL insider Jordan Schultz adds.

Harrison is not headed to Indianapolis. The Colts did their due diligence, according to FOX 59’s Mike Chappell, but the Cardinals’ asking price of a second-round pick and more was too steep (via ESPN’s Stephen Holder).

The Texans are also “in the mix,” Schefter adds, with interest dating back to Jayden Higgins’ training camp ACL injury, per Bleacher Report’s James Palmer. Houston is seem as a potential destination in league circles, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, where Harrison would reunited with his former Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud. The Texans are willing to move a second-round pick, but only in 2028; the Cardinals want it in the 2027 draft. Nick Caserio and Monti Ossenfort, the two teams’ respective general managers, have made multiple trades in the past, including the 2023 blockbuster that allowed Houston to trade up to the No. 3 selection to draft All-Pro edge rusher Will Anderson right after they picked Stroud.

Arizona originally sought first-round value for the 2024 No. 4 overall pick, but they are comfortable with at least one offer they have received to date, per Schefter. Saturday morning’s reports could be an attempt to start a bidding war over the weekend, perhaps to move Houston’s offered second-round pick into next year.

Trade rumors surrounding Harrison have intensified over the past month after his slow start to the 2026 season. He has caught just five of his 13 catches for 85 yards despite a 74% snap share in Arizona’s first four games. On a per-game basis, that is less than half of his previous production, which was still a disappointment relative to his draft billing. The son of Hall of Fame wideout Marvin Harrison was seen as a surefire WR1 coming out of Ohio State in 2024, but injuries and the Cardinals’ quarterback instability limited him in his first two seasons. He flashed chemistry with Kyler Murray as a rookie, but did not emerge as a preferred target for Jacoby Brissett last year despite his massive passing volume.

Harrison is now headed for a fresh start with a new quarterback and scheme in the hopes of recapturing the Ohio State form that featured 99.0 yards per game and 28 touchdowns over his final two years as a Buckeye. He earned All-American honors at the end of both seasons as well as the 2023 Biletnikoff Award after leading the Big 10 in yards, yards per reception, and touchdowns.

Harrison’s new club will pick up the remainder of his rookie contract. He will be owed less than $1MM in base salary this season and $5.62MM in 2027, comprised of a $1.19MM base salary and a $4.43MM roster bonus (via OverTheCap). The acquiring team will also have to make a decision on Harrison’s fifth-year option next spring. It is currently projected to be $17.2MM, but it will likely be upgraded to $18.95MM if he starts for his new team for the rest of the season. That is a pretty penny for Harrison’s production to date, but growth in a new offense could make it a serious consideration.

Saturday morning’s reports will kick off a weekend of speculation about Harrison’s landing spot. The Texans seem to be the early favorites, but other clubs will now have the opportunity to submit their bids to steal away the young receiver. Where he ends up remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: he is not staying in Arizona.