The Arizona Cardinals traded wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. to the Houston Texans on October 12, 2026, in exchange for 2027 second- and sixth-round picks, plus a seventh-round pick from the 49ers. The move followed months of underwhelming performance from Harrison, who had 108 catches for 1,578 yards and 13 touchdowns in 33 games with Arizona.
Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort addressed the trade of wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. to the Texans on Monday afternoon, calling decisions like the one to move Harrison “never easy.” The trade was somewhat expected after Harrison had been informed by the organization that he was going to be dealt. We are extremely grateful to Marvin for what he has contributed to our organization and wish him the very best as he moves forward in his career.
The agreement is still pending Harrison passing a physical. Harrison, the fourth overall pick in the 2024 draft, finished his Cardinals career with 33 games played, 108 receptions, 1,578 yards and 13 touchdowns. His first two seasons in the pros weren’t necessarily bad by any stretch of the imagination, but considering the expectations surrounding him, it’s safe to say his play was relatively disappointing. Things came to a head this year with Harrison catching just five passes for 85 yards and a touchdown in four games of action.
Texans Reunite with Harrison Over Ohio State Connection
Texans coach DeMeco Ryans expressed excitement about acquiring Harrison, emphasizing his past connection with quarterback C.J. Stroud at Ohio State. The guy is a really good player, so we're excited to get him here,
Ryans said. Harrison and Texans quarterback Stroud played together (2021-22) at Ohio State and were All-Americans in 2022. With Stroud playing like a passer built to win now, Houston believes the reunion can turn the once No. 4 overall pick into the player many thought would become an icon from Columbus.
In Columbus, the duo was inseparable. Harrison caught 88 passes from Stroud for over 1,400 yards and 17 touchdown receptions en route to the College Football Playoff. He became an X-factor and the go-to weapon for the future Texans star, en route to becoming an All-American in 2022 and 2023. Obviously, outside of football, that’s a person that meant a lot to me and I had a really good relationship with,
Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett said shortly after the Cardinals’ 45-21 loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday. You never want to see somebody leave, but just obviously wish him the best on whatever he has coming up next for him. But yeah, it’s tough. We all have a really good relationship with him in the locker room, so obviously losing him is big.
The final terms, as confirmed by the Cardinals, involved a second- and seventh-round pick, with the seventh originally belonging to the 49ers. The Texans hit the road to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in London this Sunday at Wembley Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:30 a.m.
Controversy Over Trade Reporting
It was weird.
Florio reported on Pro Football Talk on Saturday that the Texans were the likely destination, with talks centered on whether the deal would include a second-round pick in 2027 or 2028.
General Manager Nick Caserio and Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort negotiated the trade, with Ossenfort stating the decision was made after evaluating the team’s needs. The trade marked the second wide receiver deal for the Texans in 2026, following their acquisition of Kayshon Boutte in exchange for safety Jaylen Reed and a 2028 seventh-round pick. The Cardinals, meanwhile, faced backlash from fans over the trade, with Ossenfort acknowledging the difficulty of the decision.
Performance and Value Concerns
Harrison’s performance with the Cardinals drew scrutiny. Despite being the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 draft, he struggled to build chemistry with quarterbacks and Jacoby Brissett. His 2026 season included five catches for 85 yards and a touchdown in four games. Pro Football Network’s WR Impact Metric ranked Harrison 54th of 65 wide receivers for his Week 4 game against the New York Giants, with a grade of 69.5.
The Cardinals’ decision to trade Harrison came as they evaluated their offensive needs. GM Ossenfort acknowledged the challenge of developing a high-profile rookie, stating, We are extremely grateful to Marvin for what he has contributed to our organization.
He was pressed at the line on 31.5% of his snaps, the 17th-highest rate in the NFL over the past three years.
Games on Tap for Both Teams
The Texans’ next game is against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday in London, and the Cardinals play at the Los Angeles Rams the same day.
Harrison’s new contract includes $776,000 for the remainder of 2026 and $5.6 million in 2027, with a fifth-year option projected at $17.2 million.
Harrison, the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison, is now the first wide receiver since Ahmad Rashad in 1974 to be traded within his first three years in the NFL after being selected as a top-five pick, per CBS Sports Research. Rashad was also traded from the Cardinals and was shipped to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for quarterback Dennis Shaw.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Saturday that the Arizona Cardinals were finalizing a trade of Marvin Harrison Jr., without naming the team on the other end. Mike Florio said on Monday that he found out where Harrison Jr. was headed with two phone calls, questioning why Schefter left the destination out of his first report. Florio’s report drew a reaction from others, with some criticizing the omission of the Texans as the trade destination.