Texans lineup projection with Marvin Harrison Jr.: Can C.J. Stroud salvage ex-Ohio State teammate's NFL career? image
Marvin Harrison Jr. is resetting his NFL career, hoping to stick in the AFC South, the former the division of his father. Harrison didn't deliver as the No. 4 overall pick in 2024 for his original NFC West team, the Arizona Cardinals, so he's trying to rebuild his reputation with the Houston Texans.
Harrison has gone from can't-miss prospect to second-chance player. There is a good opportunity with the Texans, given their consistent rash of wideout injuries and need for more playmakers around quarterback C.J. Stroud, who's enjoying his best season since his rookie year of 2023.
Here's breaking down Harrison's chances of making a bigger impact in Houston than he did flaming out in Arizona.
TRADE GRADES:Texans take a shot; Cardinals get great value
Marvin Harrison Jr. trade details
Texans receive: WR Marvin Harrison Jr., seventh-round draft pick
Cardinals receive: 2027 second-round draft pick, sixth-round draft pick
The Cardinals didn't have the deepest wide receiver corps, but still didn't need Harrison behind Michael Wilson and Kendrick Bourne. They were fine moving preseason star Jalen Brooks to third on the depth chart.
The Texans, however, in a similar situation, were willing to give up some significant draft capital for one particular wide receiver, prompted by the QB.
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Why the Texans traded for Marvin Harrison Jr.
Stroud once lobbied for the team to draft wide receiver Tank Dell, so there's no doubt Stroud had some influence in pushing for a reunion with one of his college football go-to guys while he played with Harrison at Ohio State. In 2022, Stroud's final season in Columbus, Harrison had 77 catches for 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns as a sophomore in their only season together as starters.
Stroud has found a great connection all over the field with Nico Collins, a Michigan man who has joined the ranks of elite wide receivers with his field-stretching and red zone work. But Dell and Jayden Higgins, two promising targets early when healthy, are on the shelf with knee injuries.
Xavier Hutchinson, Kayshon Boutte (the former Patriot) and Jaylin Noel were the next options after Collins, a group that also includes venerable tight end Dalton Schultz. The Texans have had an anemic running game so far with David Montgomery now hurt and the offensive line struggling. They have become more confident in Stroud to become more pass-happy as a result and to that end, more weapons were needed.
Texans updated WR depth chart
Harrison, is listed as a starter in 11 personnel sets with Collins and Hutchinson. Harrison, however is not built to be a slot at 6-3, 220 pounds. even as a big slot given his route-running issues. In reality, Noel will keep working inside with Harrison jumping Boutte for now to rotate with Hutchinson when the Texans spread the field with three and four wide receivers.
Harrison will see limited snaps at first, because despite his previous chemistry with Stroud, he's learning a new scheme, going from Drew Petzing and Mike LaFleur to Nick Caley's offense. Harrison's best role will be trying to establish himself as a red zone threat with the occasional deep shot against weak No. 4 cornerback types.
Harrison may continue to be a huge draft bust. The Texans are hoping playing with Stroud and getting a change of scenery will spark some of his old college dominance. For Houston, that was worth the rather high cost, given its inability to keep other young receivers healthy.