When speaking to the media after their Week 5 win, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans was asked multiple times about Marvin Harrison Jr. Ryans eventually confirmed the trade for the Cardinals wideout has indeed taken place.
Harrison is heading to Houston, and the full terms of the swap are now known. Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Cards are sending Harrison and a 2027 seventh-round pick to the Texans. Second- and sixth-rounders – both in the 2027 draft – are heading the other way.
A report from yesterday indicated Houston’s second-round pick would come from the 2028 draft. Instead, Arizona will not need to wait on that front. The Cardinals spent recent days gauging the market for Harrison, who has not lived up to expectations as a former No. 4 pick. There was interest from other suitors, though, as NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports “serious inquiries” were made by at least three teams. Houston’s offer proved to be the best, and Harrison will join the Texans as expected.
This will provide for a reunion between Harrison and quarterback C.J. Stroud after the two played together at Ohio State. Stroud was asked about the news after today’s contest. The fourth-year passer said (via Will Kunkel of ESPN 97.5 radio) he was asked by Houston’s front office about Harrison. His strong endorsement played a role in the Texans’ latest WR trade. When in Columbus together, Stroud got to see Harrison start as a depth option behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Garrett Wilson, and Chris Olave in Year 1 before exploding for team highs in catches (77), receiving yards (1,263), and receiving touchdowns (14) off the arm of Stroud in Year 2.
Rumors about Harrison receiving a fresh start have swirled over the course of the 2026 season. The 24-year-old did not take a step forward in production during his second NFL campaign, and Arizona’s stint with Jacoby Brissett in place at quarterback late in the year proved to be a case of foreshadowing. With Brissett leading the way on offense this season, Harrison has managed only five catches in four games while drawing only 13 targets. As the Cards move forward with a pass-catching group anchored by tight end Trey McBride and receiver Michael Wilson, Harrison will begin a new chapter early in his career.
Houston’s season has not gotten off to the start it expected. After finishing 12-5 last year and making the playoffs as a Wild Card team, there were hopes that the younger core of the team would take another step forward as the Texans aim to advance past the Divisional Round of the playoffs for the first time in the franchise’s existence. Instead, a defense that gave up the fewest yards in the NFL and the second fewest points last year has regressed into a unit that had given up the 20th-fewest yards and the fifth-most points through four games to start the season.
The Texans offense has been able to produce to some extent, but the unit has struggled to put up points. Stroud’s favorite targets heading into Week 5 had been tight end Dalton Schultz (21 catches for 214 yards and zero touchdowns) and Xavier Hutchinson (12-166-0). Nico Collins (14-193-3) and Jaylin Noel (8-186-0) have been able to produce a bit better on fewer targets. Stroud does a good job spreading targets around the field, but Collins was the only receiver on the team with a touchdown heading into this week’s game.
More to come…
This content was brought to you by: Pro Football Rumors
