Arizona Cardinals finalising deal to trade Marvin Harrison Jr

The Arizona Cardinals are finalising a trade to send wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr to a new team, according to league sources, bringing a swift end to his time in Tempe.

Arizona informed Harrison on Saturday that he will be inactive for Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions while the details of the move are wrapped up. A final destination has not yet been confirmed, but the Houston Texans have been in active discussions with the Cardinals and are regarded as a strong contender. A move to Houston would see Harrison reunite with quarterback C.J. Stroud, his former teammate at Ohio State.

The Indianapolis Colts are not involved in trade talks, despite Harrison's father, Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison Sr., holding multiple franchise receiving records there.

Why the Cardinals are trading their former top pick

Selected fourth overall in the 2024 NFL draft, Harrison arrived in Arizona as one of the most anticipated receiving prospects in recent years. However, his role in the offence has shrunk significantly under head coach Mike LaFleur this season.

Through four games, Harrison has managed just five receptions on 12 targets for 85 yards and one touchdown. He currently ranks fifth on the team in targets, behind tight end Trey McBride, wide receivers Michael Wilson and Kendrick Bourne, and running back Jeremiyah Love. In his first two games of the year, he was limited to a single catch.

Despite public assurances from LaFleur, who said after a recent 36-24 loss to the New York Giants that his confidence in the receiver remained high, Harrison hired agents Todd France and Tory Dandy on 23 September. The move was widely viewed across the league as an attempt to facilitate a trade away from Arizona.

Contract terms and trade value

Arizona initially communicated to interested teams that it wanted first-round pick value in exchange for Harrison. However, rival executives have viewed him as a second-day pick asset, with the Cardinals recently seeking a package built around a second-round selection.

Harrison is in the middle of his rookie contract, earning $4m this season and $5.62m next season. Arizona has already paid his $22.5m signing bonus, making his remaining contract financially attractive to potential buyers. Acquiring teams also face a fast-approaching decision on his fifth-year option this coming off-season.

Across 33 career games with Arizona, Harrison recorded 1,578 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. His rookie campaign yielded 885 yards and eight touchdowns across 62 receptions, but his second year was interrupted by foot injuries and appendicitis, restricting him to 12 appearances.

If completed, Harrison will become the second top-10 pick from the 2024 draft class to be traded early in his career, following quarterback J.J. McCarthy's move from Minnesota to the New York Giants. The NFL has seen increased trade activity ahead of the mid-season deadline, including deals involving cornerback Joey Porter Jr moving to Dallas and centre Cam Jurgens heading to Baltimore.