The Houston Texans made a big swing this week by trading for a former top-five pick, and head coach DeMeco Ryans is already singing his praises.
The trade sending wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. from the Arizona Cardinals to Houston became official on Monday after he passed his physical. Ryans broke his silence on the blockbuster trade as he wasted little time making it clear he has no concerns about how quickly his new receiver can get up to speed.
Texans Land Harrison
--------------------
The Texans sent a 2027 second-round pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick to Arizona. In exchange, they received Harrison and a 2027 sixth-round pick.
Harrison was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but his production hasn’t lived up to that draft slot. He caught 62 passes for 885 yards and eight touchdowns as a rookie.
Things didn’t get much better from there. He had 41 receptions for 608 yards and four touchdowns in 12 games last season, and he caught just five passes for 85 yards and a touchdown in four games this year before the trade.
Still, Ryans is excited about what Harrison brings to the table.
“He’s another really great playmaker,” Ryans told reporters on Monday, [via Pro Football Talk](https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/demeco-ryans-common-theme-ive-heard-about-marvin-harrison-jr-is-how-hard-he-works). “He’s crushed a lot of college records. Got multiple thousand-yard receiving seasons in college. All-American, always been a top receiver when he’s been on the field.”
‘The kid is a hard worker’
--------------------------
Picking up a new offense midseason is never easy, but Ryans doesn’t seem to be all that concerned about it given everything he has heard about Harrison’s work ethic.
“The thing that I’ve heard from a lot of people speaking about Marvin is he’s one of the hardest workers,” Ryans said. “That’s the common theme that I’ve heard from multiple people, how hard of a worker he is.”
“I’m not concerned about him picking up the offense and what he can be able to run for us, the things that he’ll be able to do for us offensively,” Ryans continued. “I’m not concerned about it because the kid is a hard worker. He has a great attitude. He’s fired up to be here. When you approach it that way, as he will, he’ll fit right in.”
Ohio State Reunion
------------------
Harrison also has a familiar face in Houston. He and Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud were teammates at Ohio State, and Ryans said the team asked for Stroud’s input on Harrison before making the deal.
“He has good rapport with C.J. \[Stroud\] from their time at Ohio State,” Ryans said. “We’re excited to get him in, add another great player to our group.”
Ryans is hoping that chemistry helps speed up the transition.
“I hope so,” Ryans said. “I think anytime you have players who have spent time together, whether it’s college or other teams, just having that prior relationship definitely helps when you come into a new situation.”
Needless to say, the Texans are banking on a change of scenery and a reunion with Stroud to unlock the receiver Harrison was supposed to be.