Saturday produced news that Marvin Harrison Jr. is set to have his Cardinals tenure come to an end in the immediate future. The third-year wideout’s destination is still not official at this point, but more indications have pointed to a Houston agreement.
The Texans are expected to wind up acquiring Harrison, per multiple reports. Executives and one Cardinals player who spoke with ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler “believe” Houston will end up finalizing the trade. That would allow for a reunion between Harrison and former college teammate C.J. Stroud.
This deal is expected to consist of a 2028 second-round pick along with a late-round selection heading to Arizona, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. No Texans receivers are set to be included in the swap. Adding Harrison would give Stroud a familiar target during a season in which Jayden Higgins was lost for the year to an ACL tear. Top wideout Nico Collins has also missed time in 2026, while Tank Dell is nearing a return to action after missing all of last season.
Houston holding firm on an insistence in delaying the second-round pick (instead of paying it in 2027) could prove to be a sticking point as final discussions continue. An update from earlier today indicated the Cardinals were still attempting to land a Day 1 return for the former No. 4 pick, or at least land immediate draft compensation. The list of serious suitors appears to be limited in this case, though. On the other hand, last-minute developments such as an injury could of course alter this situation.
Stroud and Harrison had a productive connection at Ohio State. As Wilson adds, Marvin Harrison also has a strong relationship with Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans. That has helped lead to optimism on Houston’s part that the Hall of Famer’s son can enjoy a turnaround following a fresh start. 2026 has continued to see Harrison’s role in the Cards’ passing game diminish, and a lack of effort has increasingly become a talking point with his future growing uncertain.
The Raiders have also shown interest in Harrison, per Wilson. Vegas’ surprisingly strong start to the campaign has led some to believe a buyer’s stance could be adopted leading up to the trade deadline. The WR spot could stand to be improved, and Harrison’s age (24) would make him a candidate to develop alongside first overall pick Fernando Mendoza once he takes over starting quarterback duties.
Another team which has shown at least a degree of interest in this case is Baltimore. The Ravens “explored” a Harrison trade, according to a general manager who spoke with Sports Illustrated’s Jason La Canfora. Even so, La Canfora names the Texans as an expected destination once the swap is made official.
Reporting from earlier on Saturday stated the Colts and Chiefs were out on Harrison. The list of teams fitting that description can be expanded to include the Browns, with cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot noting the deal will not send him to the AFC North franchise. If anything, the Browns are seen as a candidate to be a seller at the receiver spot based on the chatter surrounding veteran Jerry Jeudy.
As noted by ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss, Harrison – who previously did not have an agent – recently hired Todd France and Tory Dandy to represent him. Those two have a history of playing key roles in blockbuster trades, and it appears their newest client is set to be on the move. Harrison will not play tomorrow as the Cardinals look to finalize his departure, and Weinfuss adds he was not present for Arizona’s team meeting earlier today.
This situation will obviously be one to monitor closely. If current indications hold true, however, Harrison (who is under contract through next season and could be retained for 2028 via the fifth-year option) will soon be joining the Texans.
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