For years, the San Francisco 49ers were all too familiar with Arizona Cardinals future Hall of Fame wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald dominating them on the regular.
So, when Arizona used the fourth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., Niners fans had to be quick to recall the days of Fitzgerald regularly having 100-yard games against San Francisco on a yearly basis.
Except things didn't pan out that way.
Harrison was something of a disappointment in year one, tallying 885 yards on 62 receptions with eight touchdowns over 17 games -- good numbers but not the ones anticipated from the top-flight pass-catching rookie. Against the Niners, he posted seven catches for 99 yards and a touchdown over the two games played that year.
Not exactly Fitzgerald-like.
Things might be changing, though, with Harrison poised to enter his sophomore year. And the 49ers better take notice.
Marvin Harrison Jr. beefed up this offseason, 49ers are now on the alert
Arguably the biggest storyline from the Niners' NFC West rivals' offseason workouts was just how much stronger Harrison looked compared to his rookie season.
Indeed, the folks over at Pro Football Network noticed, writing:
"The summer is always “best shape of his life” season for NFL players, but that hyperbole might actually be true for Marvin Harrison Jr.
A noticeable gain in muscle mass was the story around the Arizona Cardinals’ 2024 first-round pick at minicamp. Though his rookie numbers fell short of expectations last year, he remains a prime breakout candidate entering Year 2."
Indeed, it's hard not to notice:
Kyler Murray couldn't believe how different Marvin Harrison Jr. looked ð
(via @AZCardinals) pic.twitter.com/mVush4Xt3y
— NFL+ (@NFLPlus) June 10, 2025
If there was a knock against Harrison entering the draft a year ago, it was he was a bit stringy despite his 6-foot-3, 209-pound pre-draft frame.
It appears as if those concerns, if they were of any seriousness in the first place, have fully been alleviated.
Granted, getting stronger doesn't always equate to more production on the field, and it's still fair to question just how much Harrison will benefit from a Cardinals passing attack that lacks help elsewhere beyond star tight end Trey McBride.
Still, considering San Francisco will face Harrison and the red birds twice in their in-NFC West matchups this season, the second-year receiver is certainly a bigger threat (quite literally) than he was his rookie campaign.
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