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Marvin Harrison Jr. entered the NFL as one of the most celebrated wide receiver prospects in recent memory. Despite not participating in pre-draft workouts, his collegiate dominance at Ohio State convinced the Arizona Cardinals to select him fourth overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. The three players taken ahead of him—Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Drake Maye—were all quarterbacks, and each has shown promise early in their careers. Harrison, meanwhile, was expected to be a surefire star in Arizona. But that promise never materialized.
On Saturday, ESPN reported that Harrison will be traded following Sunday's games. At the time of the report, it was unclear which team he would be dealt to or what compensation the Cardinals would receive, but it was certain that his tenure in Arizona had come to an end. The outcome is stunning: a player once viewed as a generational talent is being moved after just 33 games, and for far less than the Cardinals invested in him. The can't-miss prospect missed.
A Dominant College Career
Harrison's college résumé was impeccable. In 2022, he recorded 1,263 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. After his quarterback, C.J. Stroud, departed for the NFL, Harrison followed up with 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2023. He consistently performed against top competition, posting two 100-yard games against Michigan, 185 and 162 yards against Penn State, and a 102-yard, two-touchdown outing in a bowl game against Georgia. His production was staggering, and it came against elite defenses. Although his decision to skip the combine and pre-draft drills was unusual, his game film made it irrelevant. Some wondered if it should have raised red flags, but no draft analyst questioned the Cardinals' selection. He was widely regarded as the best non-quarterback in the class.
Struggles in the Desert
As a rookie, Harrison posted a respectable 885 yards and eight touchdowns, but 130 yards and two scores came in a single game against the Rams—an outlier. That performance occurred in his second game, and over the remainder of his Cardinals career, he managed just one other 100-yard game. In his second season, while sidelined by injury, teammate Michael Wilson recorded three 100-yard games and another with 99 yards. Wilson simply looked like a better fit in the offense than the former Ohio State star, which was alarming. Harrison finished last season with only 608 yards and four touchdowns in 12 games. A new coaching staff arrived, and Wilson signed a three-year, $75 million extension in September, underscoring how much the team valued him. When Harrison started slowly this season, it became evident he could be traded. There were no signs of an imminent breakout.
A Fresh Start Elsewhere
Harrison's 2025 campaign began with just one catch through two games. A video of his routes—showing a lack of explosiveness and effort—went viral. The player who skipped running for scouts before the combine couldn't separate. The college superstar who routinely eclipsed 100 yards was, at best, the fourth option in Arizona's offense. He finished this season with five catches for 85 yards. Assuming the trade is completed, Harrison's time with the Cardinals is over. He is still only 24 years old and could develop into a quality NFL receiver. A change of scenery sometimes rejuvenates a player, and perhaps he will fare better in his new home. The traits that made him a great prospect still exist, even if they've been hard to recall during his mediocre stint in Arizona. It can still happen for Harrison, but if it does, it will be with another team. When the Cardinals drafted him, they celebrated. They never imagined they'd be moving on before his third season was halfway done.
Originally reported by yahoo.