NFL analyst's latest prediction about WR Marvin Harrison Jr. is exactly what the Cardinals need to elevate their offense in 2025

Wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.'s rookie year was a mixed bag.

The Arizona Cardinals selected him with the fourth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft following a terrific career at Ohio State. Harrison's final stat line was fine, catching 62 passes for 885 yards and eight touchdowns, but it was also a bit underwhelming given his expectations.

Harrison only eclipsed the 100-yard receiving mark in two games, and was held under 50 yards eight times (not counting Week 6 in which he missed most of the game after getting injured). Rookie seasons can be tough and unpredictable, but the Cardinals need Harrison to step up in 2025.

In the opinion of NFL.com analyst Marc Ross, that's exactly what is going to happen. While compiling a list of second-year breakout candidates, Ross selected Harrison as one of his eight.

"Harrison's rookie production certainly wasn't horrible, but considering the massive expectations surrounding him coming into the NFL, he fell short of the hype. He registered 62 catches for 885 yards and eight touchdowns, exceeding 90 receiving yards in just three games while being held to fewer than 40 seven times. The offense struggled with consistency in 2024, and the chemistry between Kyler Murray and his No. 1 receiver was not where it needed to be, something they are trying to improve this offseason. With a full NFL season and offseason now under Harrison's belt, it certainly feels like we will see a different version of the 2024 fourth overall pick this fall." - Marc Ross

The progress a player makes from Year 1 to Year 2 can be significant. With a season of NFL experience under his belt and a chemistry built with quarterback Kyler Murray, Harrison is primed to establish himself as a top tier WR. His head coach Jonathan Gannon also believes that he is ready.

"He came up to me -- I normally meet with guys about their developmental plan when we're done with the year -- when I had my meeting with him, he came up to me and he handed me a piece of paper," Gannon said. "It wasn't me handing him a piece of paper. But we knew that. The guy's a ready-made pro. He does all the right things. He was here the whole offseason. He skipped out one week, he went and trained with a bunch of different receivers, but he was here the whole offseason. I think he added a little bit of muscle mass. He looks a little bit bigger. All his numbers, his metrics are all better than when we got him."